Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Ireland Genealogy Research

Official Website of the CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List

 

Young, Stewart & Holmes Headstone Transcriptions, Main Street Presbyterian Church Graveyard, Garvagh, Errigal Parish, Co. Londonderry

Original transcription by Beryl Young, Auckland, New Zealand
Church & Congretation History by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com
Formatted by
Jim McKane, Ontario, Canada - jamckane[at]gmail.com
Main Street, Garvagh BT51 5AA
 
 

MAIN STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GARVAGH, ERRIGAL PARISH, CO LONDONDERRY: A history 1771-1952

Extracted from A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982 (Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, Belfast, 1982)

In 1771 Mr James Harpur from Mallusk was ordained to the Secession congregation of Knockloughrim and apparently he was responsible for the Seceders of Garvagh until their own minister Mr. Thomas Mayne was ordained in 1773. He was the son of the Rev. Thomas Mayne of Drumgooland [Co. Down]. Mr. Mayne of Garvagh married three times and James, son of the second marriage, became minister of Ballywatt. Where the Seceders first worshipped is unknown, but they eventually came to the present site in Main Street. The old session house was situated just inside the church gates and this was probably used for services until a building further up the church drive on the right was built. The church now in use dates from the early 19th century. Mr. Mayne retired 1 Sept. 1825 and died 2 July 1827. He was buried in the old Errigal graveyard.

Mr. James Buchan Rentoul, son of the Rev. James Rentoul, of Ray [Co. Donegal] was ordained 11 Oct. 1827. He married Sarah, daughter of Rev. William Wilson of Crossgar and they had four sons in the ministry – Alexander (Dublin), Robert (Clonmel), Professor John (Melbourne [Australia]) and Alfred (Longford). Mr. Rentoul of Garvagh joined his brothers in opposing the Union of the Synods in 1840 but next year Main Street, Garvagh joined the General Assembly. In 1872 Mr. Rentoul received the degree of D.D from the Jefferson University, U.S.A.; he retired 1885 and died on 3 Dec. 1886 aged 85 Mr. Samuel Boyd Thomson (lic. Route) was ordained 22 Sept. 1886 and resigned 7 Nov. 1934 and died 19 May 1941. At that time of his retirement the congregation purchased Ardavon for a manse.

On 4 Apr. 1935 Mr. Andrew Gardiner (lic. Carrickfergus) was ordained and he resigned on 19 July 1948 on accepting a call from St. Columba’s, Queenstown, South Africa. On 18 Nov. 1948, Mr Thomas McIlroy (lic. Ahoghill, 1946) from Randalstown was ordained and resigned 29 July 1952 on receiving a call to 1st Lurgan.

 

Surname Transcription
Young Robert Young, Ballinameen, who died 12th Dec 1899 Aged 75 years
Also his wife Nancy who died 14th May 1905 aged 84 years
And their son George who died 5th Feb 1916 aged 61 years
Also their daughter Mary who died 20th Feb 1917 aged 49 years
And their son William who died 3rd March 1874 aged 12 years
And their son Thomas who died 13th June 1929 aged 59 years
Erected by their son Robert, Matamata, New Zealand
Young Annie Young died 15th April 1931
Aged 78 years
Young In loving memory of a dear brother and uncle John Millar Young
Died 8th October 1993 aged 60
Till we meet again
Young Precious memories of a dear mother Agnes
Died 5th May 1983 aged 81 years
Forever in our thoughts
Stewart In loving memory of Margaret Emma
A dear wife and mother died 22 June 1986
The Lord is my Shepherd
Flowers from brother Jim, nephews Nigel and Jonathan, brother Norman
Stewart In loving memory of Jack
Died 4th Feb 1987 aged 59 years
The Lord is my Shepherd
Stewart In loving memory of Isaac died 7th February 1984 aged 65
His wife Gretta died 17th January 1997 aged 71
Their son Paul died 2nd October 1990 aged 28
The Lord is my Shepherd
Stewart In loving memory of a dear husband father and grandfather Johnnie died 2nd December 1992
Also a devoted wife mother and grandmother Maisie died 12th September 2001
The Lord is my Shepherd
Stewart In loving memory of William Hugh Stewart who departed this life on 19th May 1961 aged 16 years
Also his mother Elizabeth Stewart who departed this life on 24th January 1983 aged 78
And her husband Samuel Stewart who departed this life on 24th October 1983 aged 70 years
Stewart John Stewart, Kewrin, died 15th August 1873 aged 90 years
His wife Nancy died 28th February 1868 aged 84 years
And his daughter Elizabeth died 16th April 1906 aged 86 years vAlso Robert Stewart died 6th April 1956
And his wife Jeanie died 26th February 1930
And their daughter Elizabeth Walker died 7th January 1933
Stewart John Stewart died 17 June 1990 aged 60
Stewart Stewart, Gortnamoagh
Cherished memories of a loving husband, father and grandfather John Stewart
Died May 9th 1988 aged 73
In heavenly love abiding
Stewart In memory of James Adams Stewart BA, late of Boyle, Co Roscommon
Who died 23rd February 1906 aged 40 years
His mother Elizabeth Stewart who died 24th October 1920 aged 80 years
His son Ronald Wm Adams Stewart who died 7th June 1921 aged 23 years
His father James Stewart who died 22nd October 1922 aged 97 years
And his brother Samuel Stewart, Kewrin and Station Road, died 21st april 1969 aged 93
And his sister Isabella Stewart died 16th December 1972 aged 102 years
Elizabeth wife of Samuel died 16th March 1986 aged 91
Stewart Erected by Thomas Stewart, Killyvally, in loving memory of his sister Maud died 21 March 1953 aged 17‡
And his father Hugh Alexander died 3 March 1967 aged 90
Martha Irwin Stewart his mother died 29 May 1972 aged 68
Stewart In memory of William Stewart died 18th May 1881 aged 62
Also his daughter Sarah died 16th April 1883 aged 19
Sarah (Sally) Craig nee Stewart died 9th January 1982
Her husband William John Craig died 9th September 19
Holmes Holmes, Woodland Park, Kilrea
Cherished memories of William a loved husband and father died 19th April 1989
Also his wife Margaret died 16th Nov ember 1995
Holmes Treasured memories of a loved and loving husband and father John, died 27th Mar 1976
Also husband Henry Gillespie died 22 May 1992
Annie Gillespie died 25 January 2002