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Limavady Baptist Church Marks a Century of God’s Faithfulness
Limavady Baptist Church has celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years of Christian witness, fellowship and Gospel ministry in the town and surrounding district, and above all giving thanks to God for His faithfulness through successive generations.
The church was formally constituted on 13 August 1926, when 16 believers met and signed the minute book as foundation members. The beginnings of the work, however, stretched back further, with prayer meetings and gatherings of the Christian Workers’ Union bringing believers together to seek God’s blessing upon the preaching of the Gospel. Through the study of Scripture, a number became convinced of believers’ baptism by immersion, the weekly breaking of bread and the pattern of New Testament worship.
Despite having very limited financial resources, the newly formed congregation purchased a former undertaking hall for £300. The building was formally opened in December 1926 and became the home of the fellowship as it sought to establish a faithful Gospel witness in Limavady.
The years that followed brought both opportunities and challenges. The church developed its witness through Gospel missions, open-air meetings and outreach into the surrounding district, alongside Sunday School, children’s work, women’s ministry and practical Christian service. The fellowship became fully self-supporting in 1953.
Redevelopment of the Protestant Street area in the 1960s meant that a new church building was required. The present building opened on 14 October 1972, with four surviving foundation members participating in that special occasion. Costing just over £37,000, the building was debt-free within a year — testimony to the sacrificial giving and commitment of the Lord’s people. The premises were later extensively renovated and expanded in 2007.
Throughout the century, successive pastors, elders, deacons, members and friends have contributed to the work, each generation seeking to maintain and advance the Gospel witness entrusted to them.
A Special Evening of Thanksgiving
The centenary was marked with a special celebration on Friday, 28 August, when current and former members, friends and invited guests gathered for an evening of Gospel music, praise, worship and thanksgiving to God.
Special guest singers included the Hannah Family, Nigel Davidson, John Porter and Peter Mander, who contributed to an evening centred on praise and gratitude for all that the Lord has done.There was recognition of the church’s two longest-serving current members. Mrs Margaret Kearney has been a member for 77 years, while Mr Ken Forsythe has been in membership for 67 years. Their many years of fellowship and testimony provided a fitting reminder that the history of a local church is written not simply in buildings, dates and records, but in the lives of believers who faithfully serve the Lord from one generation to another.
The First Day, the Current Day and That Future Day
Former pastor Kenny Wilson brought the closing message from Philippians chapter 1, directing the congregation’s thoughts to the past, present and future.
Drawing from Paul’s words in verse 5 concerning the Philippians’ “fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now”, he encouraged those present firstly to remember the first day.
For Limavady Baptist Church, the centenary provided a natural opportunity to look back to those early believers whose convictions, prayer, sacrifice and commitment to Scripture laid the foundations of a New Testament church witness in the town. Sixteen believers gathered in 1926 with comparatively little in material resources, yet with a desire to establish a fellowship centred upon Christ, His Word and the proclamation of the Gospel.
The congregation was then encouraged to consider the current day — Paul’s words speaking not only of “the first day” but also of faithfulness “until now”. A centenary is therefore more than an opportunity to remember the past; it carries a responsibility in the present.
The challenge to today’s believers is to continue faithfully and in unity, valuing the fellowship of the Gospel and seeking the blessing of God upon the ongoing witness of the church. The work entrusted to earlier generations must be carried forward by those whom God has placed in the fellowship today.
Finally, attention was directed towards that future day. Philippians 1:6 speaks with confidence that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
While a centenary naturally looks back over a hundred years, the Christian’s ultimate expectation is not another earthly anniversary but the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church therefore looks forward in hope, awaiting that day while seeking to remain faithful in the work entrusted to it.
Today, Limavady Baptist Church continues to meet regularly, with Gospel campaigns, youth work and other outreach seeking to bring the message of Christ to the local community.
As the fellowship enters its second century, there is deep gratitude for the first day, a renewed responsibility to serve faithfully in the current day, and a confident hope as believers await that future day — the day of Jesus Christ.
The prayer of the congregation is that, should the Lord tarry, future generations will remain faithful to God and His Word, the Bible; steadfast in Christian fellowship; united in the Gospel; and committed to proclaiming the message of salvation in Limavady and beyond.
After a century of change, the theme of the celebration remains unchanged: “Great is Thy faithfulness.”
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Online via Zoom:
8:20am–9:00am
In–Person:
9:00am (early morning prayer meeting)
11:00am (pre–morning service prayer meeting)
6:00pm (pre–evening service prayer meeting)
Click on the ‘Zoom Prayer Meeting’ button below to join via Zoom.
First time using Zoom? You need to download the Zoom app to your computer or mobile device.
For support in doing this please email info@limavadybaptist.com.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm 18:6
Psalm 18:6