History of HPC

Many of the people who settled in Ulster at the beginning of the seventeenth century were Scottish Presbyterians escaping persecution at home for their non-conformity. 

However, the situation here was little different and for a long time Presbyterian worship and marriages were deemed to be illegal.  There was nonetheless a Presbyterian meeting-house at Anahilt from as early as 1662.

In the early years of the nineteenth century many new Presbyterian congregations were formed, one of which was in the village of Hillsborough.  Some 170 families, most previously members of Anahilt, became connected to the new congregation.  Their new church was opened in 1832 on the present site, generously donated by the Marquis of Downshire. 

To deal with increasing numbers attending worship, the gallery was added in the 1840's.  A little later a Manse was purchased on Main Street, the church was extensively renovated, the schoolhouse (present Minor Hall) was rebuilt and a teacher’s residence provided.

A pipe organ was first purchased and installed in 1928.  This was replaced in 1998 by a Copeman Hart digital organ.

A new manse was built at the beginning of the twentieth century on a site on the Lisburn Road, also kindly donated by the Marquis of Downshire.  This remained congregational property until in 1963 the present manse, adjacent to the Church was purchased.

Short histories of congregations invariably focus on the ministers who have served in it.  Here we make mention of only one - Rev JH Orr, who was minister of the congregation from 1918 until 1962!  One can only imagine the changes he must have seen in the congregation, the village, the Province and indeed the wider world over that lengthy period.

Near the end of his ministry, the congregation undertook major renovations and extensions to its various properties.  Stained glass memorial windows were installed in the church; a minister’s room, choir and committee rooms replaced the old teacher’s residence and a kitchen was provided.

In 1974 a new suite of halls, including a main hall, was built on part of the new manse garden and the hall was named in memory of Rev Orr.

A new vestibule, made possible by a legacy from Mr TE Saunders, was dedicated in 1981.  A new lighting system was provided for the church in 1995 by the Brown family in memory of Mr Sam Brown.

The membership of the congregation had grown steadily but unspectacularly from the original 170 families in 1833 to about 360 families in 1986.  With a rapid increase in the housing stock in the village at that period this increased significantly to 560 families by 1997.