THROUGH THE THE ARCHIVES: From the News Letter of October 1830

visitation

The Lord Bishop of Derry, the Honourable William Knox, had held his annual visitation, “on which occasion there was a very numerous attendance of the clergy”.

A minute investigation was carried out by His Lordship and his Vicar-General, “as to the state of the respective Parishes, the increase in congregations, the number of communicants, and especially the mode of instruction pursued for properly grafting children in the doctrines of the Church of England”.

A most impressive sermon was delivered by the Reverend Edmund Knox, from 1st Timothy IV 15,16, in which was outlined “the character of the Christian Minister”.

The clergy were afterwards entertained by His Lordship at dinner.

Ulster Missionary Society meeting held at May Street, Belfast

On October 7, 1830 the Ulster Missionary Society had held a meeting in the Presbyterian Meeting-House of May Street, Belfast, with the Rev Dr Cooke in the chair.

A report of the society’s proceedings for the year was read, and the meeting was addressed by the Rev Messrs Cooke, Morgan, Wilson, Bellis, Cairus, and the RevDr Dickson of Edinburgh.

Funds raised for meeting-house

Meanwhile it was also noted that the Rev H Cooke, DD, had preached a sermon in the Presbyterian Meeting-House in Killyleagh on behalf of the building fund for the congregation of Hilltown. The News Letter reported: “An immense Congregation assembled, and though the people of Killileagh [sic] have contributed largely to the erection of their present place of worship, upwards of £24 was collected.”

Distress amongst the cotton weavers of Belfast

“The situation of this unfortunate class of mechanics is at present most distressing,” reported the News Letter.

The report continued: “From returns which we have seen and statement made to us, it appears there are at this moment upwards of 700 heads of families whose earnings do not on average exceed 4s per week, and nearly 3,000 fellow beings (dependent on them for subsistence) are in a state closely bordering starvation.”