WHILE the current Methodist church stands proudly at Darling Street, Enniskillen, this was not the site of the original chapel.

Raymond Millar, a mine of historic information about the church, revealed that in 1793, the first Methodist chapel was built near Wellington Place; however, due to the growth of the congregation, the building was replaced in 1846 by a chapel in Wesley Street.

Methodism in Fermanagh can be traced to 1763 when it was established by William Price, a former soldier in the Inniskilling Dragoon at Tonylomon, a few miles outside the town, with Methodism established in Enniskillen in 1779.

In 1859, the second Enniskillen chapel proved too small to accommodate all who wanted to attend. Additional ground was purchased in 1863, and the foundation stone was laid by the Earl of Enniskillen on June 17, 1865.

The new church was opened on Sunday, February 17, in 1867.

One of the most famous members of the church was William McArthur, who served his apprenticeship in Enniskillen, going on to become the Lord Mayor of the city of London, and knighted by Queen Victoria.

Sir William returned to Enniskillen to promote the building of a large hall and classrooms on the site of the first church, and funded the building, which was completed in 1890. The halls at the rear of the church bear his name.

In 1906, an organ was installed with the guidance of Reverend R. C. Phillips and the assistance of a generous donation from the famous Scottish-American, Andrew Carnegie, the fabulously rich industrialist and philanthropist.

Overhaul

A complete overhaul, renewal and relocation of the console took place in 1957.

Most of the building continues today as originally planned, with a membership of some 220 families.

Visitors will notice the wrought ironwork around the gallery, designed with the fashionable large hooped skirts of the time in mind, which ballooned outwards as the wearer sat down.

There are six memorial plaques in the church which are in memory of members of the congregation who fought and died in the World Wars of 1914-1918, and 1939-1945, and in memory of a young man who died during the Falklands War of 1982.

Close by, there is also a plaque in memory of the members of the church who were killed in the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombing in 1987.

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At the back of the church, a Station Crest and a memorial plaque commemorates the service and sacrifice of local members of the RUC, and a plaque marking the gift of chandeliers in memory of one of the church members.

The flags of the Girl’s Brigade and Boy’s Brigade are in situ, and the church also has a Sunday School, Bible Class and Youth Fellowship, as well as a Toddlers group.

House Bible Study Groups are in operation alternating with the Church Prayer Meeting. Other activities include choir, Methodist Women in Ireland, and very active bowling and badminton clubs.

While Methodism has been in Fermanagh for more than 250 years, the church’s current minister, Reverend Lorna Dreaning, knows that the church has to keep evolving if it is to survive.

The Methodist church in Enniskillen has done that in the past as the congregation grew, and with the way Covid-19 has altered society, it may be time to do so again.

“We have become more of a community church, and so certainly during lockdown there, we’ve been involved in a lot of projects,” said Rev. Dreaning.

“We’re sort of moving into new territory, again. We’re looking at, as a church, where is our place in Enniskillen, and what do we need to be doing to sort of advance the message of the Gospel in what we believe, but to also connect with a community on a more of a social basis as well.

“I know at the moment, we’re looking at building projects; we’re looking at just different things that have been able to accommodate more people, and maybe more clubs.”

In the three years since Rev. Dreaning began her ministry here, she has seen huge steps in Methodism, despite it being an ageing community, as her community engages more and more with the town.

She said: “I have to say that, really, [we’re] very aware of we have a choice of whether we’re going to be a dying breed, or how do we connect with the young folk – how do we connect with the mental health teams in the town, you know, how do we connect with young families as well?

“We’re looking at all of those [issues] and trying to engage with that at the moment.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought changes to ways things are done within the church, and Rev. Dreaning says they are looking to change, but without compromising what they believe in.

‘We don’t stand still’

“I believe that that’s what the church is for – we don’t stand still; we keep looking at where we can be active, and where we do need to move forward.

“We’ve had a fantastic online ministry as well over the past year; we’ve been very busy, my husband and I.

“And during lockdown, we installed brand-new TVs and things to try and modernise the technology, and we’ve just installed new fibre broadband.”

In some instances, such moves have resulted in more people attending online than in the actual building.

Darling Street is very much a family unit, says Rev. Dreaning, where everybody cares for each other, and she is thankful for all who have supported the church and the encouragement they have given to herself and her husband.

She hopes that as life returns to some sort of normality, the church will be able to welcome new people into the congregation.

“I want to thank everybody for the support and the encouragement that they have given us.

“I would love to see new faces, and I’ve no doubt that there will be new faces, when the restrictions are lifted, but we have been encouraged by just words, cards, gifts, and food left at the door. I would love to take the opportunity just to thank the community, in Enniskillen itself, for their love and support.”

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