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A History of Emmanuel Baptist Church Building formerly called 'Grettaville'
The 1726 map of the estate of the Rt. Hon Francis Conway would suggest that the land on which the building stands was then in the hands of a Captain Welsh but as to the site of the house at the time one cannot be sure. The present building, or strictly speaking its plan form more or less, was in existence in 1832/33, during which years the area was surveyed by the Ordnance Survey, which survey formed the basis of the OS map that was published in 1833. That map shows the building, un-named, in the position which it currently occupies, together with a smaller outbuilding directly to the rear, but not attached, the long axes of both buildings being parallel. Both buildings appear on the OS map published in 1858, again un-named. The OS map published in 1904, surveys for which were carried out during 1901/02, shows the same two buildings, plus a further outbuilding (now our prayer room) positioned at the eastern end of the space between the first two and all three buildings appear on the 1925 OS map which was based on a survey carried out in 1920.
The name 'Grettaville' first appears on the OS map that was published in 1946 and on which all three buildings are again represented. The 1946 map was based on a survey carried out in 1938; consequently, it appears as though the building must have acquired its name sometime during the period 1920-1938. During that 18-year period, the property was registered to two different persons, either one of which could have bestowed the name. They were a Joseph Patterson Waring, a farmer of Ballymacash, who acquired it in 1906 from Aghnahough farmer John Waring, and a Richard Norwood, an Aghnahough dairyman who acquired it in 1932, Aghnahough being the town land in which the building is located.
Land Registry records indicate that John Waring acquired fee simple title to the property in 1900 but extremely involved research would be required to establish precise ownership's prior to that. Suffice to say that for much of the 19th and 18th centuries the property was owned by the Wallace and Hertford Estates respectively and for a considerable part of the 19th century it is known to have been leased to a Mary Loan who is recorded in 1880 as having the house on a yearly tenancy of £12-12s1d (£12.60)
In 1975, Richard Norwood sold 'Grettaville' and lands associated with it to James Woods Rosbotham who used the house and outbuildings as a base for his operations as a general contractor until 1987 when 'Farrans Construction' acquired the whole property for housing development.
Meanwhile, in 1983, a group of men from Lisburn Baptist Church had planned a tent mission on the County Down side of the town. Arrangements were made to erect the tent in a field but for some strange reason the owner of the field changed his mind and withdrew permission. After trying to no avail to find another site, they had a growing feeling that God might be directing their attention to the west side of the town and, providentially, the tent was pitched in the field on the opposite side of the road to 'Grettaville' where interest was soon cultivated. About this time, plans were published by the Department of the Environment for large-scale housing development in the western part of Lisburn.
The opportunity for church witness and outreach was recognised, as was the need for a building where people could worship. Many possible sites were examined but for various reasons were found to be unsuitable and then, in August 1988, 'Grettaville' came on the market. After prayer and discussion, negotiations comenced in October of that year and by the end of November the former farmhouse had been acquired together with the immediately adjoining out-building and the small plot of land immediately to the east which is now the car park. Renovation and conversion plans were speedily drawn up, work commenced the week after Christmas and in April 1989 the initial phase of construction was completed.
Since then, membership has grown steadily and we now have an average Sunday attendance at Church and Sunday School of 90 adults and 120 children. In addition, we have a Wednesday evening prayer meeting and we also encourage boys and girls of the area to come to a children's meeting the same evening at 6.30 PM from October to March.
During September to March, Bible study meetings are held on Thursdays at 8.00 PM and youth meetings on Sunday evenings at 8.00 PM are increasing in popularity. Our aim is to preach the Word of God without fear and favour. Do pay us a visit - we can assure you of a warm and friendly welcome.
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