A Brief History of the Fellowship at Ballee from it's formation in 1968

In the early months of 1968, a number of believers were meeting on a Tuesday evening in the home of Mark and Isobel Johnston at 11 Carolhill Park, Ballymena.  After much prayer and consideration they formed a fellowship on 10th April 1968.  They then moved their meeting place to the minor Town Hall, Ballymena where Rev. Fred Henry ministered the word of God and preached the gospel.  Times of rich blessing followed the faithful preaching and teaching and the numbers soon began to increase.  Mr Matthew Calderwood from Dunloy became the first Elder in the Fellowship on 9th April 1969.

The Fellowship now known as "The Evangelical Church" sought for a place where they could expand and be free to hold other meetings without restrictions and a site was offered to them by Alexander Neilly at Toome Road, Lower Ballee, Ballymena.  They moved to the present site and erected a temporary wooden building which was opened and dedicated on 7th June 1969.  The guest speakers on that memorable occasion were the late Pastor Willie Mullan and his son Michael.  A Communion suite was presented to the Church by Mr Alex Agnew.

The following extract is taken from the minutes of the Annual Church meeting on 8th January 1970.
"Pastor Henry reported 47 souls pointed to the Lord;
28 believers baptised and 37 received into fellowship"

The first wedding in the church was on Tuesday 11th August 1970 when Miss Ina McAuley was joined in marriage to Mr John Livingstone.

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The first gospel mission on the present site commenced on Lord's Day 6th September 1970 conducted by Mr Henry, and continued for four weeks ending on Lord's Day 4th October.  During that period many precious souls trusted the Savior.

God continued to bless and add to the Church.  In the Autumn of 1970 a manse was purchased at 6 Rowallane Drive, Ballymena and in the summer of 1971 a further building was erected to accommodate the Sunday School.

At a special meeting on 3rd August 1972 it was agreed after much consideration to change the name from The Evangelical Church to Ballee Baptist Church.

The Study of God's Word on a Tuesday evening, something that is still carried on today commenced back in the autumn of 1973.

Mr Henry served as Pastor of the Fellowship until 30th April 1974 when he went to serve the Lord with Sandes Soldiers and Airmen's Homes to H.M. Forces.  Mr Matthew Calderwood took charge of the platform ably assisted by his fellow elders Robert Cameron and Jim Fleck.  Under their continued steady leadership and counsel the fellowship continued to flourish.

During the month of September 1974 Mr Jim Peden, Cloughmills conducted a three week mission.

At the Annual Church meeting on 4th February 1975 Mr, Bertie Russell was elected to the office of Elder.

On 23rd October 1975 Mr Samuel Gordon from Bangor was inducted as Pastor of the Fellowship.  During the winter of 1975 lengthy negotiations were completed for the purchase of the present site from the Ballymena Development Commission at the cost of £4,220.

In February 1977 Bro. Jim Fleck resigned from the Church due to taking up the Lord's work in England.

Pastor Hamilton Moore was the guest speaker during a further three week mission from 1st to 22nd May 1977 which proved to be a blessed time.

At the Annual meeting on 9th January 1978 Bro. Wilbert Price was elected to the office of Elder.

In August 1978 Pastor Samuel Gordon accepted a call to Limavady Baptist Church and commenced there on 1st September.  For the following two years God continued to bless and lead the assembly of His people through many local and visiting servants.

At the Annual meeting on 11th February 1980 Mr James Robinson and Mr Ronnie Linton were elected to the Office of Elder.

From 23rd March to 13th April 1980 a further gospel mission was held at Toome Road.  The speakers were Pastor Willie Mullan and Geoffrey Ward.  This proved to be very profitable for sinner and saint alike.  At a Special Church meeting on 17th April, the church sent a unanimous call to Mr Ward of Lurgan to be their pastor.  Brother Ward accepted the call, left his employment in the Post Office and was inducted as Pastor of the flock on 2nd August 1980.

On 29th May 1981 the church suffered a great loss at the home call of Mr Matthew Calderwood.  He was a great man of God, it was a joy to have known him, we still remember some of his messages.

In June 1981 the church held a three week tent mission outside Cullybackey on the land of Bro. David Logan.  This was a great time of blessing for the fellowship.

On 1st October 1980 the wooden Sunday School building was removed and work commenced on the new Church.  Over the following 20 months to 1st May 1982, many of the Church members gave freely of their time and skills to build the new Church.  We cannot mention them all by name but we must mention five of them for their great commitment: Robert Cameron, the Late Cecil Scott (Pastor Ward's father-in-law), Billy Colville, Tommy Rea and Robert Craig.  The new Church valued at £130,000 was built, furnished and opened on 1st May 1982 at the cost of £65,000.  Mrs Lily Wharry a senior member of the assembly performed the official opening and pastor James Irvine, Newcastle was the guest speaker on that memorable occasion.  A gospel mission followed until 28th May 1982.  Pastor Jackie Hughes then in Coagh Baptist Church was the preacher.  God was in the midst in Salvation blessing.

At the end of 1983 a new manse was purchased at 17 Ballee Road West, Ballymena and the property at 6 Rowallane Drive was sold.

During the month of March 1985 Mr Ivan Thompson, Belfast, was the guest speaker at a further gospel campaign when many souls found the Savior.

In April 1987 Pastor Ward accepted a call to Kilkeel Baptist Church, County Down.  During his six and three quarter years in Ballee the Lord blessed his ministry in the salvation of precious souls and growth in the Church.

At a special Church meeting on 26th October 1987, it was agreed to proceed with plans for the building of a new Church Hall, to replace that first building erected on the site.  At that meeting the contract was given to Mr Victor Gordon, Builder.  The Hall was finished and the official opening was on Saturday 1st October 1988, when Bro. Wilson McKeown, a senior member, turned the key in another new chapter of the work at Ballee. The guest speakers on that occasion were Pastor G Ward and Pastor H Chambers. 

On 4th July 1988 a unanimous call was sent from a special Church meeting to Mr Lawrence Kennedy of Belfast, to serve the Lord as Pastor at Ballee.  In the weeks to follow, this call was prayerfully considered in the "Kennedy" home.  In September the Church received a letter of acceptance from him.  Mr Kennedy left his good position in the bank and his induction Service was held in Ballee on Saturday 3rd December.  The guest speakers were Pastor Victor Maxwell, Templemore Hall, Belfast and Rev. Tom Shaw, Ballycraigy Congregational Church.

At the annual church meeting on 8th February 1990 an inscribed watch was presented to Brother Wilson McKeown for his faithful service over many years to the Sunday School and Bible Classes.

In the Autumn of 1991 a further gospel mission was held to reach out with the great message of good news to lost sinners.  It was for three weeks 6th-25th October.  The guest speaker was Pastor Victor Maxwell, Belfast.

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Friday morning 1st October 1993 was a morning we will never forget.  Many of us were awakened out of sleep at 4.00am to receive the news that our church building was on fire. Mr John Stewart of Toome Road had seen the fire and alerted the Fire Service.  We could do little, the fire was at such an advanced stage. The fire authorities did what they could but the building was reduced to ruins.

As daylight broke we were faced with the awful reality that our church and bus were destroyed.  The Pastor led a very quiet tearful group of men in prayer and committed to God the days ahead.  Then commenced a lengthy process of compensation claims based on expert advice acting for both parties. In the months ahead it was decided to remove the old walls, clear the site and build a new and bigger Church building.  The plans were drawn up by Mr Jim Anderson, Ballymena.  The contract was then given to Mr Victor Gordon at the Annual Meeting in February 1995.

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Mrs Jean Kelly, Mrs Emma Simpson and Mr Raymond Herbison were presented with gifts in recognition of faithful service to the Sunday School over many years. We also pay tribute to Tom and Kathleen McGrath who have served the Lord in the tape ministry of our Church through many years and Martin Campbell who also helped in that work. We say a sincere thanks to Mrs Sally Fleming and Miss Alison Calderwood, Organist and Pianist respectively for their dedicated service.

On Lord's Day 3rd December 1995, Pastor Kennedy completed seven years in Ballee and the Secretary thanked him for all his faithful and dedicated service to the fellowship.  The Pastor is a gifted teacher and scholar of The Word and we benefit tremendously from his ministry.  He is a great visitor to the homes of the sick, the elderly, the troubled and the bereaved.  We thank God for him.  During the past seven years people have been saved, membership of the fellowship has increased and spiritual growth is evident.  His wife Lesley is also busy in the work and care of God's people at Ballee.

Over the past few years we have had a great increase in those called to Mission work.  We now have five couples from our Fellowship in full-time work.

We thank all, (we could record many other names), who serve or have served in Oversight, those in leadership of  Sunday School work, the Bible classes, the Good News Club, the Ladies work, the Outreach work and not forgetting the Young peoples work, we praise God for a great company of believing youth.

The New Church building was opened in June 1996.  Click here for order of service.  The work of God is still continuing and growing at Ballee.

SERVICE

Those who have served the fellowship in the capacity of Pastor/Elder

Those who have served the fellowship in the capacity of Secretary

Those who have served the fellowhip in the capacity of Treasurer

Those who have served the fellowship in the capacity of Sunday School Superintendent