The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Lord’s Supper

The twelfth in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This video L – Lord’s Supper

Conducted by the Rev Dr David Steers, minister First Dunmurry (NS) Presbyterian Church and filmed at Ballee.

An edited version of a video originally filmed and uploaded in September 2021 during the pandemic.

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L stands for the Lord’s Supper and in this short film we look at how we understand this important service. Conducted by the Rev Dr David Steers and filmed at Ballee Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

A Scottish Sacrament by Henry John Dobson. (Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons)

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The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Kedron

When the Paschal evening fell
Deep on Kedron’s hallowed dell,
When around the festal board
Sat the Apostles with their Lord,
Then his parting word he said,
Blessed the cup and brake the bread –
“This whene’er ye do or see,
Evermore remember me.”
From a hymn by A.P. Stanley

James Martineau wrote another hymn which mentions Kedron, which is our subject for the letter K. To find out what links Jerusalem’s Kedron valley with the churchyard at Downpatrick watch this service. Filmed at the First Presbyterian Church (NS) Downpatrick, Mary Stewart gives the reading from John ch.18 v.1-9, and church organist, Laura Patterson, plays the hymns Christ, be our light and Great is thy faithfulness’.

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The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Kedron

The eleventh in a series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This video K – Kedron.

Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Worship filmed at Downpatrick.

Conducted by the Rev Dr David Steers, minister of First Dunmurry (NS) Presbyterian Church.

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Jesus

In this video we look at Non-Subscribing Presbyterian understandings of Jesus. How do we see him? How do we understand him? Filmed in Dunmurry with a reading from Luke ch.6 v.46-49 given by church member Noelle Wilson the service is conducted by the minister, Rev Dr David Steers. Dunmurry organist Allen Yarr plays the hymns Stand up! Stand up for Jesus (Church Hymnary 532), From all that dwell below the skies (Church Hymnary 228) and Let saints on earth in concert sing (Church Hymnary 227) on the piano.

This video was originally recorded and uploaded in September 2021 during the pandemic.

Jesus Christ Pantocrator, by Andrei Rublev

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The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Inquiring

Faith is not a static thing, or a matter of repeating various creeds or statements, but should rahter be open and inquiring. We should have a faith that asks questions and is not simply content to be told what to believe.

This is the ninth service in our alphabetical series describing the ehos of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism and is mostly filmed at Clough (with a bit of extra filming at Downpatrick). Conducted by the Rev Dr David Steers, minister, First Dunmurry (NS) Presbyterian Church, the reader is Annabel Cleland (Downpatrick) who reads from John ch.20 v.24-29. Clough organist Alfie McClelland plays the hymns Thou whose almighty word (Hymns of Faith and Freedom 173) and Lord in the fullness of my might (Hymns of Faith and Freedom 269).

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The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Inquiring

The ninth in a series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This video I – Inquiring.

Filmed at Clough and Downpatrick. Recorded and originally uploaded in August 2021 during the pandemic.

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Hymns and Hymnbooks

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Hymns and Hymnbooks

The eighth in a series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This video H – Hymns and Hymnbooks.

Click on the video above. This is an edited version of a video originally uploaded in 2021 during the pandemic

Filmed at Ballee and Downpatrick, in this film we look at some historic hymnbooks and hymns within the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, where there is a tradition of writing hymns and producing hymnbooks which can be traced right back to the early nineteenth century.

Conducted by the Rev Dr David Steers, minister of First Dumurry (NS) Presbyterian Church the reading comes from Colossians ch.3 v.12-17 and is given by Elsie Nelson (Clough)…

A selection of Non-Subscribing hymnbooks from the nineteenth century

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Gifts of the Spirit

The seventh in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland is filmed at Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church and so far we have reached the letter G – Gifts, that is Gifts of the Spirit.

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In the service, conducted by Rev Dr David Steers, minister of First Dunmurry (NS) Presbyterian Church we examine these gifts. The reading is from 1 Corinthians ch.12 v.4-12. Alfie McClelland, plays the hymns Walk in the light’ (Hymns of Faith and Freedom 334) and City of God, how broad and far (Hymns of Faith and Freedom 202) on the organ at Clough.

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Faith

Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Worship from Ballee. The reading is from Habakkuk ch.2 v.1-4.What do we mean by Faith as Non-Subscribers?

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The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Faith

The sixth in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This time ‘F’ – Faith

The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian meeting-house at Killinchy, co. Down

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Education

In this video we look at the importance of education to Non-Subscribers across the centuries, including the Killyleagh philosophy school.

Out of our good liking for learning, and for the encouragement of the same in this place, and particularly for encouraging the philosophical school taught at Killileagh, by Mr James McAlpin, professor of philosophy; and in consideration that he is, in the future, to keep and teach the said school, at the town of Killileagh, do hereby oblige ourselves to provide him and his family a convenient dwelling-house…

Part of the original agreement for Killyleagh Philosophy School (1697).

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Education

The fifth in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland

‘E’ – Education

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Rev Alexander Gordon, minister in Belfast and Principal of the Unitarian Home Missionary College, Manchester

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Doors

Filmed in Dunmurry, today we ask: ‘What meaning can we find in the doors of our churches, what can they tell us of our attitudes and faith?’

Doors are both highly symbolic and completely essential for our meeting-houses. We look at the doors we find in the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland. All the doors mentioned in this video can be found elsewhere on this blog.

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Doors

The fourth in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This video ‘D’ – Doors

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Light of the World by William Holman Hunt. Manchester Version. Public Domain. Wikipedia Commons

An image inspired by the reading used in today’s service:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation ch.3 v.20.

Side door to Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Collecting Ladles

Today’s video is filmed in Downpatrick and, at first sight, it might seem strange to select Collecting Ladles as the subject for letter ‘C’ in our alphabetical exploration of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. But Collecting Ladles formed an essential part of church life for Presbyterians in Ireland and Scotland for generations. In some places they are still in use today (regularly in Downpatrick and Ballee for instance – as the illustrations on this page show) but often aren’t recognized by those outside the Scots-Irish Presbyterian community. Collecting ladles also lead us into questions of giving and the stewardship of resources.

The A to Z of Non-Subscribing Presbyterianism: Collecting Ladles

The third in our series of alphabetical explorations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
This video ‘C’ – Collecting Ladles

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Ballee Collecting Ladles

Clough Wooden Collecting Ladle