Bessbrook Presbyterian Church

31/05/2026

Sunday 31st May 2026

17/05/2026

17/05/2026

Sunday Morning 17th May 2026

03/05/2026

Sunday 3rd May 2026

30/04/2026

This short Service of Remembrance to honour the life and witness of Rev Alexander Stuart CF and former Minister of our congregation took place on Thursday 23rd April 2026. We extend our thanks to those responsible for the production of this short video and to everyone who contributed to, participated in and made this Act of Remembrance so meaningful.

Bessbrook Presbyterian Members visit grave of Rev Stuart at Ruyaulcourt Cemetary 23rd April 2026

28/04/2026

Members of Bessbrook Presbyterian Church were recently privileged to visit the grave of Rev Alexander Stuart CF, a former Minister of our congregation who was killed in action on 24th October 1917 in The Somme area of Northern France. A plaque commemorating the service and sacrifice of Rev Stuart was placed on his grave by Clerk of Session Danny Kennedy and Session member Robert Cartmill and they conducted a short act of worship. A poppy wreath was also laid at the Cross of Sacrifice in Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery where the Rev Stuart is buried. He was attached to 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and was Minister of Bessbrook Presbyterian Church from 21st May 1913 until his death, as a result of an enemy shell.
Aged 37, Rev Stuart was the first Presbyterian Minister to be killed in the Great War and he is remembered on the memorial tablet of Bessbrook Presbyterian Church and Bessbrook War Memorial as well as the family grave at Culnady Presbyterian Church where his father, Rev Joseph Crawford Stuart was Minister. The visit to Ruyaulcourt Cemetery was the first stop in the itinerary of a party of over 100 people to the Somme area of France organised by Bessbrook District LOL No.11 accompanied by Bessbrook True Blues Flute Band. The entire group attended and participated in the service.

Special thanks is due to Jim Neagle (member of Session) who produced the leaflet and plaque used to remember Rev Stuart and Nathan Brown who created a very appropriate mount for the plaque.

We give thanks to Almighty God for the life, witness, service and sacrifice of Rev Alexander Stuart.
“Lest We Forget” “Ardens Sed Virens”

26/04/2026

Sunday 26th April 2026

19/04/2026

Sunday 19th April 2026

12/04/2026

Sunday Morning 12th April 2026

05/04/2026

Easter Sunday Evening Service 5th April 2026