About us

St John the Evangelist, Killyleagh Parish

Killyleagh Parish is celebrating its 385th anniversary this year. We are a Church of Ireland establishment in Killyleagh, County Down, overlooking Strangford Lough.

Our parish has a rich history, and we are working on helping it thrive long into the future. This page contains information on elements of the church and its architecture, as well as key historical figures and events associated with the parish during the last three centuries.

St John’s over the years

The building and the people

The beginning

It all started 385 years ago

This beautiful church, on a 1.5 acre site, was established in its present form in 1640 and stands on a hill, overlooking Strangford Lough, the town and Killyleagh Castle. The original building would have been a barn-like structure. King James had awarded James Hamilton land from Killyleagh to Bangor and the church was built on some of this land at the top of Church Hill.

The original capstone, placed beside the font, shows the date the church was built-1640.

addition of a spire

1825, funded by Lord Dufferin

There are records of the church being closed for four months in 1859 as open pews had been installed. Gas lighting was installed by John Martin of Shrigley in 1866. He came to Killyleagh from Pott Shrigley in Cheshire and created a respected model village for his mill workers in Shrigley, about a mile from Killyleagh.

Additional fixtures

Plaques, windows, bell, extension

There are a number of plaques and two stained glass windows in memory of various Martin family members. In 1875, a new bell was presented by Catherine Ann Hamilton of Killyleagh Castle. In 1877, the church was enlarged with the addition of a side aisle and new chancel. A new East window was added, along with other stained glass windows, a new Walker organ and choir stalls. The roof was raised and a heating system installed.

the font & other elements

Egyptian rock

In 1940, the Tercentenary year, the Holy Table and Communion linen; choir stalls and prayer desks; a chair and prayer desk for the South side of the sanctuary; a chair and prayer desk for the North side of the sanctuary and a Pulpit desk and Fall were added, gifted by parishioners, family and friends. The font came from the old church at Killowen and is thought to pre-date it. It is made of red porphyry, a hard crystalline rock, deep red and quarried in ancient Egypt. There are also some magnificent stained glass windows.

Historical figures

People who have shaped the history of the parish and local area

Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was baptised in the church in 1660. After being tutored in the library at Killyleagh Castle, he went on to become the world famous scientist, physician, botanist, chemist and natural historian. He bequeathed his vast collection to the nation, which helped establish the British Museum. He rose to become the only man to be President of the Royal College of Physicians and President of the Royal Society. 

In 1712, he became Royal physician to Queen Anne. He also served George I and George II. He is also accredited for introducing chocolate to Britain, having discovered cocoa in Jamaica and developing a recipe to manufacture it, by sweetening it. The moth Urania Sloanus and the plant genus Sloanea are named after him. A font cover was gifted to the church in 1964 by parishioners in his memory.

Sir Henry Blackwood

Sir Henry Blackwood, GCH, KCB (1770-1832) was a naval captain, under Lord Nelson. Before Trafalgar Nelson said to him, “God bless you Blackwood, I shall never speak to you again”. Blackwood witnessed a codicil to Nelson’s will.

Blackwood was buried in the Blackwood vault in the graveyard and there is stained window as a memorial to him in the church. In 2005, Prince Edward attended a service in the church to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, in recognition of Sir Henry’s achievements and association with the church.

Rev Edward Hincks DD

The most famous clergyman of our parish was the Rev Edward Hincks DD (1792-1866). He was Rector from 1825-1866. He had a great interest in ancient languages and was a scholar and acknowledged expert on Egyptian hieroglyphics, all of which he deciphered at the nearby rectory, where they were brought to him.

In 1835, he supervised the unrolling of Takabuti at Belfast Natural History Society. He deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphs, which revealed she was mistress of a great house. He never visited the ruins, but there is a bust of him at the entrance to the Cairo Museum, erected in 1908. His headstone can be seen in the graveyard and there is a stained glass window in his memory behind the Holy Table.

The last 75 years

Our current Priest in Charge is the Rev Eben Grobbelaar who arrived in January 2024 from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Rev Colin Darling was Rector from August 2016-2023. Following in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Revd Stanley Mann, who was rector of the parish from 1935–1962.

Rev Jerome Munyangagu served in the parish from 2000 – 2015. Rev Munyangagu was a native of Rwanda in Africa and joined the parish from Bangor Abbey where he served as curate. At his retirement in 2015, he and his wife Mary  returned to Africa to continue their ministry, running a residence for the elderly in their homeland of Rwanda.

The 4 rectors immediately before then were:
Rev Mark McConnell 1995 – 1999.
Rev Cecil Mitchell 1989 – 1993
Rev Edwin Conn 1963 – 1988
Dean Stanley Mann 1935 – 1962

May 23, 2025

385 year anniversary

We held a summer concert at the church, welcoming Grosvenor Chorale, award winning Pianist Ruth McGinley and talented pupils from Cedar Integrated Primary School for an evening of superb music, hosted by Lindsey Armstrong to celebrate 385 years of worship.

May 23, 2025
January 21, 2018

Hall Dedication

Over the past 10 years the fabric of the Church has been improved, including repairing stone mullions around the windows and new heating. Currently, the old parish hall, which had been used since 1869, is being rebuilt on the same site, just outside the gates of the church in Church Hill. The new hall, the St John’s Parish Centre, was completed early in 2018 and dedicated for use by Bishop Harold Miller on 21st January.

December 2016 was another momentous occasion as the old Sunday School Building, which had stood and served as a community hub for almost 150 years started to be demolished to make way for a new all-purpose two-story hall on the same site.

January 21, 2018
November 1, 2015

375 Year anniversary

In November 2015, the church was full as 375 years of worship on the same site was celebrated. It’s amazing to think that God has been worshipped faithfully in the one place by so many people for so long and more importantly, God has been unceasingly faithful and loving to his people.

November 1, 2015
November 28, 1990

350 year anniversary

25 years earlier, on 28th November 1990, the 350th anniversary of the church consecration was celebrated with a service of Thanksgiving, with the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Dr Robin Eames preaching.

November 28, 1990
September 13, 1940

300 year anniversary

An article in the Belfast Telegraph of  13th September 1940 gives an account of the 300th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, when, amongst many gifts dedicated, were new Choir Stalls.
December 2016 was another momentous occasion as the old Sunday School Building, which had stood and served as a community hub for almost 150 years started to be demolished to make way for a new all-purpose two-story hall on the same site.

September 13, 1940

“One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.” – Psalm 145:4