History

14th Century

Clondehorkey ‘Old’ Church built on site at Kill, Dunfanaghy

Pre-1709 – Present

Internments in ‘Old’ Clondehorkey graveyard, beside ‘Old’ Clondehorkey Church

1752

Clondehorkey ‘Old’ Church closed; Ballymore Parish Church built; Dunfanaghy parishioners travelled (on foot and horseback) to worship there

1873

Clondehorkey West Church (to be later known as Holy Trinity Church) built on site given by Stewarts of Ards; building designed by John Lanyon (who also designed The Queens University of Belfast and Belfast Castle); L-shaped plan with multiple gables; constructed by Messrs. McClelland of Derry at cost of £1,200; first General Vestry meeting held; first Select Vestry elected

1874

Holy Trinity Church consecrated on Trinity Sunday, 28th June; first Rector Rev. John Brodie

1875

Bell donated by Mrs. Murphy; first wedding takes place

1877

Name of parish changed to Dunfanaghy at request of Diocesan Council; bell installed

1880

Rectory completed and occupied by Rev. Brodie

1905

Rev. J. Pirrie Conerney becomes second Rector

1907

First recorded use of Parish Hall (no record of it prior to this); bookrest for use on Communion Table given as anonymous gift

1913

Plaster in ceiling replaced with pitch pine to match rest of church woodwork

1917

Lecturn gifted by Mrs. Fanny Griffith in memory of her husband Major Griffith and her father Rev. V.P. Griffith

1940

Rev. Benjamin T. Humphreys becomes third Rector

1954

Rev. J. K. Beattie becomes fourth Rector

1957

Rev. Gerald J. A. Carson becomes fifth Rector

1962

9th April: Service of Dedication following major repairs to internal walls and lighting

1966

Church windows renewed

1967

Rev. R. E. Pritchard becomes sixth Rector

1973

‘New’ graveyard consecrated

1974

100th Anniversary celebrations

1977

Rectory renovation project – rewiring, central heating installed; Rev. Joshua McCloughlin becomes seventh Rector

1980

Rev. Frederick J. Reilly becomes eighth Rector

1982

Rev. Raymond J. Stewart becomes ninth Rector

1984

Rectory renovation project – new roof, insulation fitted, structural repairs, phoneline installed

1986

Church restoration project – roof replaced, dampness issues addressed, rewiring and new floor

1988

Canon Noel Warren becomes tenth Rector

1992

Parishioner, and Select Vestry member, John Merrick ordained; organ gifted by Kilmoe Church in Diocese of Cork

1993

Church restoration project – repointing west wall as well as work on copings and window mullions

1998

Archdeacon Scott Harte becomes eleventh Rector

1999

Mr Bobby and Mrs Catherine Alcorn retire from manually ringing the Church bell; it is last rung manually to usher in the new Millennium; the bell has been operated automatically since

2004

Parish Hall renovation project – roof replaced, insulation installed, extension added, electrical works, plumbing, ramp and handrails fitted, carpark levelled

2014

Rev. David MacDonnell becomes twelfth Rector

2017

Church restoration project – lowering of floors, repointing of walls, tiling, electrical works

2019

Canon David Skuce becomes thirteenth Rector; parishioner and Select Vestry member, Patrick Knowles, commissioned as Parish Reader

2024

150th Anniversary celebrated; parishioner and Select Vestry member, Mark Alcorn, commissioned as Parish Reader

2026

Canon David Skuce retires; parish vacant