Our History

OUR STORY

When Mr and Mrs Jack Todd moved from Portadown to Comber they began attending Newtownards Baptist Church.  After a period of time, and following much prayer, the elders of Newtownards Baptist Church along with the Extension Committee of the Baptist Union of Ireland were led to approach Mr Todd with a view to starting a Baptist work in Comber.  A meeting for prayer was held in their home on Thursday 24th March 1966. The meetings continued and a number of local Christians who were travelling to neighbouring churches began attending regularly.

A gospel mission was arranged for August 1966 when Pastor S T Carson was the evangelist. It was well attended and we know of one person who trusted the Lord.

As a result of the mission numbers attending the meetings were such that the Todds’ home was not big enough. Permission was granted for the use of the local band hall on Laurel Bank. Sunday afternoon services began and the leadership were greatly encouraged and it was felt it was the time to form a church.

 The formation service was held on Thursday 17th November 1966 when 22 members signed the minute book.

Services continued in the band hall but it was the desire of the leadership to have their own building and the Lord provided a site on Mill Street. The building was opened on Saturday 1st May 1976. The next stage was to seek the Lord for a pastor to lead the work and in His providence Pastor Jim Garrett was inducted as the first Pastor on Saturday 2nd September 1978. During his ministry the church grew both spiritually and numerically to 134 in 1993.   In July of that year Pastor Garrett concluded 15 years of ministry in Comber to become Pastor of Portrush Baptist Church.

Following his retirement from the pastorate in Portrush he returned to live in Comber and was faithful in his attendance at our services until the Lord called him home on 28th July 2019.

In 2018 Pastor Clifford Morrison came to offer his help and support to the fellowship as the church continued to search for a senior pastor. Pastor Morrison graciously helped the church over two years and pastored the congregation through the first national lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 3rd January 2021, on the brink of another national lockdown, Pastor Neal Gordon was inducted as Senior Pastor. Pastor Gordon had previously been the Pastor of the Shankill church in North Belfast. In unusual circumstances due to strict government guidance, the service was a real source of blessing in the midst of turbulent days. Pastor Morrison conducted the induction and former Pastor and current lecturer at the Irish Baptist College Peter Firth brought God’s word.

50th Anniversary Celebrations

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November 2016 was a very special weekend for us as we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Comber Baptist Church.

The church was packed to capacity with current and former members and friends.

Pastor ST Carson who had conducted a gospel mission in 1966 at the beginning of the outreach was the chairman for the evening and spoke about his involvement in those early days.

The Morrison’s were our guest singers.

Our guest speaker was Pastor John Shearer form Scotland.

During the service a book “Fifty Years of God’s Faithfulness” 1966-2016 outlining the history of the church was launched.

We thank the Lord for His Faithfulness in the past and continue to look to Him for the future.

FORMER PASTORS

• Pastor J Garrett (1978-1993)

• Pastor W Crawford (1994-2001)

• Pastor P Firth (2005-2010)

• Pastor S Burnham (2011-2018)

• Pastor C Morrison (2018-2020)

• Pastor N Gordon (2021-present)