Ballyculter Christ Church
Strangford County Down
Who we are
Lecale Group of Churches (LAMP)
The Churches in this group are part of the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP) – a team of 14 Churches in and around Downpatrick sharing together in the Mission of the Church. This cluster consists of:
Down Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity) Ardglass (St Nicholas) Ballyculter (Christ Church) Kilclief (St Caelan) Saul (St Patrick) Dunsford (St Mary) Old Court Chapel, Strangford
Our group of churches serves a friendly community of Christians living in the Lecale area and is part of the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP). Our worship reflects our rural community which is both warm and traditional. We love welcoming visitors and newcomers to this area where we enjoy excellent cross–community relations. Down Cathedral and Saul are also places which welcome thousands of visitors annually. In both churches we are re–discovering what it means to be a place of pilgrimage and paryer, as we seek to offer support to those who value our Celtic Christian heritage.
The Churches in this group are part of the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP) – a team of 14 Churches in and around Downpatrick sharing together in the Mission of the Church. This cluster consists of:
Down Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity) Ardglass (St Nicholas) Ballyculter (Christ Church) Kilclief (St Caelan) Saul (St Patrick) Dunsford (St Mary) Old Court Chapel, Strangford
Our group of churches serves a friendly community of Christians living in the Lecale area and is part of the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP). Our worship reflects our rural community which is both warm and traditional. We love welcoming visitors and newcomers to this area where we enjoy excellent cross–community relations. Down Cathedral and Saul are also places which welcome thousands of visitors annually. In both churches we are re–discovering what it means to be a place of pilgrimage and paryer, as we seek to offer support to those who value our Celtic Christian heritage.
Church Website
Leadership
Leader Name:
Very Rev Henry Hull
Leader Position:
Incumbent
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Very Rev Henry Hull
Administration
Admin Name:
Rev Michael Houston
Phone:
Driving Directions to Ballyculter Christ Church
Travel/Direction Tips
Ballyculter – Christ Church is two miles outside Strangford in the direction of Downpatrick. It is off the Churchtown Road, which runs from the Castleward Estate to Ardglass.
Ballyculter Christ Church Service Times
Sunday Services
Sundays at 10am: Morning Worship
Saul, Ardglass, Kilclief
Sundays at 11.30am: Morning Worship
Cathedral, Dunsford, Ballyculter
Monday at 8pm
Community of Prayer at Saul
Thursday at 10am
Holy Communion at Down Cathedral
It's been more than 2 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Sundays at 10am: Morning Worship
Saul, Ardglass, Kilclief
Sundays at 11.30am: Morning Worship
Cathedral, Dunsford, Ballyculter
Monday at 8pm
Community of Prayer at Saul
Thursday at 10am
Holy Communion at Down Cathedral
It's been more than 2 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Other information
Ballyculter Christ Church History
This church was originally built in the 1620s. Although there had been a church dedicated to St. Malachy on this site since medieval times, it had become a ruin after uniting with Saul parish.
By 1663 a lease for the ground had been issued and the church, which had been built by Payne, had been repaired by the Ward family who felt the need to provide a place of worship for their visitors and employees in nearby Castleward.
One of the most distinctive features of the church is the lych gate at the entrance. This roofed gateway was a gift from Admiral Ward in 1888.
The word lych comes from the Old English or Saxon word for corpse. A lych gate was where the clergyman met the corpse before the funeral service. It also kept the pall-bearers dry.
A tower was added in 1723 and in 1777 Lord Bangor paid for a steeple to be built. In 1836 the average attendance was 170 for the evening service. At this time the church was undergoing repairs for which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had granted £295. The church was remodelled in 1882 by the Ward family in memory of Lady Bangor. The stone spire, topped by a ball and a weatherfish, is attractive and handsomely proportioned.
From: http://www.strangfordlough.org/strangord-heritage-trail/christ-church-ballyculter-upper.html
One of the most distinctive features of the church is the lych gate at the entrance. This roofed gateway was a gift from Admiral Ward in 1888.
The word lych comes from the Old English or Saxon word for corpse. A lych gate was where the clergyman met the corpse before the funeral service. It also kept the pall-bearers dry.
A tower was added in 1723 and in 1777 Lord Bangor paid for a steeple to be built. In 1836 the average attendance was 170 for the evening service. At this time the church was undergoing repairs for which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had granted £295. The church was remodelled in 1882 by the Ward family in memory of Lady Bangor. The stone spire, topped by a ball and a weatherfish, is attractive and handsomely proportioned.
From: http://www.strangfordlough.org/strangord-heritage-trail/christ-church-ballyculter-upper.html
"The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him".John Climacus
Ballyculter Christ Church listing was last updated on the 10th of December, 2021
