Ballysillan.

The work in the Ballysillan District can be traced back to 1914 when Mr Ernest Barr was transferred from Jersey Street to become the first Missionary. A weekly programme included an afternoon Sabbath School held in Emerson`s Row and the Sunday and Wednesday evening meetings held in Wolfhill School. After Mr Barr resigned he was succeeded by Mr Samuel Brown who continued the meetings started in Springvale Street hall as well as commencing a cottage meeting in Wolfhill Lane and a Monday evening meeting in Wolfhill School. The work continued to grow significantly which resulted in the people of the area requesting that the Mission Board would seek a more suitable building and central for the people of Ligoneil. 1921 saw a new building erected and furnished and in 1923 the work was continued by the then Missionary Mr William Cummings. During 1943 an additional Missionary Mr Jackson C Buick joined the staff of the Mission and took over the work in the district. Mr Buick worked with great enthusiasm and commitment and experienced great blessing and growth in the work during this time, this was evident among the youth of the district. The Mission purchased the building in April 1954. After having served faithfully for 12 years Mr Buick resigned from the Mission in 1956 to enter study for ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Mr James Chestnutt took over as Missionary for the district. He served until 1962 and after a short vacancy Mr Harry Irvine was appointed as Missionary. On Saturday 6th April, 1963 the new Mission hall was opened at the top of the Bilston Road. Sadly Mr Irvine died suddenly on the 16th December 1968 in his 41st year. Harry had served with Mission for 16 years. Mr David Campbell was then transferred to the Ballysillan hall in 1969 after serving in the Riversdale Street and district. Mr Campbell was transferred to the work in Kilburn Street in 1977 and was succeeded by Mr William Lilburn. After 7 years of service Mr Lilburn was replaced by Mr Arthur McClelland a young Missionary who had trained for a short period in the Rathcoole hall. Subsequently after 7 years in Ballysillan, Arthur was then transferred to the Shore Road hall. Mr Jim Madden was then appointed to Ballysillan. He served until 1992 and after a period of vacancy Mr Harry Creighton commenced service in the Ballysillan district in 1995. Harry overseen many improvements carried out internally in the hall but importantly witnessed many come to faith in Christ. He served for 4 years until retirement and Mr Jackie Spence was appointed September 1999 after a number of years in Rathcoole. Mr Spence served in the district for 7 years and then left the Mission to study for ministry in the Presbyterian Church. Mr David Bell joined the Mission in December 2006 and spent a short period of training in the Shore Road district before transferring to Ballysillan on 1st September 2007. Mr Bell served for over 7 years before transferring to Rathcoole in March 2015. The present Missionary Mr Andy Williamson was appointed in July 2015.

105 years of service for the Lord has been carried out in Ballysillan and district. These years have seen great changes in the area, however, importantly there are still people coming to faith as result of the witness of the Belfast City Mission Ballysillan.