Rathcoole.

The work of the Belfast City Mission in Rathcoole began with the opening of a brand-new hall on Innis Walk, formally declared open on 14th November 1970. Into this fresh beginning stepped Mr. Robert (Roy) Graham, appointed as Missionary after two years of faithful service in the Shore Road district.

Rathcoole was no ordinary place. At the time, it was the largest housing estate in the United Kingdom, and later in Europe. It was a vast mission field, full of opportunity and challenge. Mr. Graham poured himself into the work with energy, vision, and faith. He introduced new ideas, cast fresh vision, and under God’s blessing saw real growth. Much of that growth came through the young people of the estate. To reach them, he established the 16th Newtownabbey Boys’ Brigade company and the 281st N.I. Girls’ Brigade company—organisations that gave structure, discipline, and gospel influence to countless children and families.

As the work expanded, so too did the building. In 1980, the hall was extended and a car park added. In 1992 another extension, known as The Link-Up, provided more space for ministry. Then in 2006 a major development gave the hall a large activity space, ensuring the Mission could continue to meet the needs of a growing community.

Mr. Graham retired in 2010 after an extraordinary 42 years of service in Rathcoole—a lifetime of gospel labour in one place. His assistant since 2003, Mr. Paul Hamill, then stepped into the role of Missionary. After Mr. Hamill left the Mission in 2014, Mr. Gary Bingham, who had been serving since 2010 and assisting in Rathcoole, was appointed to lead the work.

In March 2015, Mr. David Bell transferred from Ballysillan to strengthen the ministry. When both Mr. Bingham and Mr. Bell moved to other roles within the Mission, the charge passed in April 2017 to Mr. Jordan Neill, who came after a period of service in the Shore Road district. The most recent chapter began in June 2023, when Mr. David Kennoway was appointed as Missionary in Rathcoole.

Through all these years, the purpose has never changed. Since that opening day in 1970, the vision has remained: to be a Mission in the heart of the community, proclaiming the good news of the gospel in both spiritual and practical ways—to be, in every sense, the Mission at the heart of the estate, with the estate at its heart.

Alongside those already named, many others have given invaluable help to the work in Rathcoole over the past 52 years: Mr. Johnston Lambe, Mr. Arthur McClelland, Mr. Tom Gamble, Mr. George Speers, Mr. Jackie Spence, Mr. Paul Clarke, Mr. Alan Martin, and Mr. Walter Simms. Each has played a part in this unfolding story of God’s faithfulness in Rathcoole.