The Parish Church is picturesquely sited in the village of Groomsport, overlooking the sea. It holds a special place in the history of Northern Ireland’s rural architecture.

The “Chapel of Ease”, as it was when built in 1841, was one of sixteen churches built with funds supplied by the Church Accommodation Society, started by Bishop Richard Mant. The site in Groomsport was a gift from Mr John Waring Maxwell of Finnebrogue, near Downpatrick. His summer residence was the nearby Groomsport House. The architect was the famous designer Sir Charles Lanyon, architect of the then Queen’s College (which later became Queen’s University), who gave his services free to the Society.

On November 26^th 1842, the Bishop issued a Licence to the Rev Richard Binney. ‘Incumbent of the Parish of Bangor and his Curates publicly to celebrate Divine Service and to Administer Holy Sacraments in Groomsport Church.’  

The first service was held on December 11^th 1842.

For some unknown reason, the Church was not Consecrated until February 2^nd 1850.

The Parish comprises 3,252 acres – see Boundary map below. It begins at Ballymaconnell Road, Bangor, passes along the coast, taking in the Townlands of Ballymacormick, Groomsport, Lower Balloo, Ballyminetra, Orlock, Portavoe, and, crossing the B21 Bangor-Donaghadee  Road, takes in Ballyfotherly. It also includes the Copeland Islands.

When J W Maxwell gifted the site, it was on condition that “burials are expressly prohibited either in the Church or the Churchyard”.  Another condition imposed was “That the Church shall be called Groomsport Church”.   It seemed that if at any time in the future, the Rector and the Select Vestry wished to call the Church after a Saint, there would be difficulty in so doing.

The Church, as designed by Lanyon, was initially built with a Nave only, and with an Entrance Porch in the base of the Tower. It had seating for one hundred and thirty parishioners. In 1909 the Chancel was added in memory of Major Robert Percival Maxwell.  On that occasion, additional pews were installed and the flat ceiling was replaced by the present hammer-beam roof.  The West window, which was designed by Mayer of Munich, was installed in memory of Robert and his brother John William Percival Maxwell who had died in 1873 and 1875 respectively.  

The total cost of the building in 1841 was £750.  Half of this sum was given by the Church Accommodation Society, along with a generous donation and an endowment of £100 per year from Mr J W Maxwell, with the balance falling to the building fund.  At this time a Church Bell was given as a gift.  It bore the inscription ‘Presented by Mr J W Maxwell, Esq R E of Finnebrogue, to Groomsport Church.  Thomas Mears, Foundry London 1843’. A copy of the receipt for this bell is shown in the photos on this page. A Church plate was also presented as a gift from Lady Selina Ker of Portavoe, a daughter of the first Marquis of Londonderry, and a half-sister of Viscount Castlereagh. In 1932 when the Transepts, designed by local architect JA Hanna, were consecrated, Lady Selina’s Grandson, Major D A Ker of Portavoe was the People’s Churchwarden.

On November 26^th 1842, the Bishop issued a Licence to the Rev Richard Binney. ‘Incumbent of the Parish of Bangor and his Curates publicly to celebrate Divine Service and to Administer Holy Sacraments in Groomsport Church.’  

From 1842 until 1853 the services in Groomsport Church were conducted by the Clergy of the Parish of Bangor.  From 1853 onward, the Groomsport Incumbents were as follows:-

1853-1880: Abraham  Hillhouse  McCausland.

1880-1892:  Frederick  John  Hearne.

1892-1894:  William Lawerence  Twist-Whatham.

1894-1913:  Samuel Stephen Holmes.

1913-1938:  Ernest Musgrave Harris

1938-1944:  George Freeman.

1944-1968:  Charles Hay Walsh.

1968 -1975:  James Edward Moore.

1975-2000:  James Derrick Tyney.

2000-2022:  Duncan Pollock.