Second Rathfriland Presbyterian Church and Hall
This was originally a Secession Church. The occasion of the Seceders being first called to preach in Rathfriland was owing to a number of the members of Glasker Secession Congregation having taken offence at Mr Moor, the minister of that congregation owing to his litigious disposition and quarrelling with the members of his own congregation, which made many withdraw from communion in his Church, including most of the elders. Of the latter class was James Mulligan, of Rathfriland, who thought of getting temporary preaching in Rathfriland until the dispute with Mr Moor and his congregation should be settled.
In the meantime, Mr Mulligan got drawn up a supplication to the Associate Presbytery of Down, who met at Ballynahinch on 18 April 1796. The petition asked for the Presbytery to send to Rathfriland faithful preachers of the Gospel and was signed by about 40 persons. The supplication was taken to the Presbytery by James Mulligan and William Hart, where it was strongly opposed by Mr Moor, but was supported by Mr Main and almost all the members of Presbytery, who appointed Mr McConnell, a Probationer to preach the next Sabbath, which he did in the Covenantors’ Meeting House. The services continued there for a time, after which they were held in the Parish Church, the Market House, and sometimes in the fields.
The members of the Presbytery preached for a time in rotation, free of charge or expense to the new congregation. In the meantime, several Seceders living in and near Rathfriland joined the new congregation and contributed to strength and popularity, and continued to do so, until May 1799 when the congregation, though very small, resolved to attempt building a Meeting House, which they began on 1st of July 1799, three years and three months from the first preaching they had in Rathfriland.
The congregation helped forward with the work until it was finished the following November, the cost being partly made up by collection in the town and neighbourhood, and next by T Kennedy and A McClenahan paying in advance about £30 on the credit of the congregation. The mason work was done by Michael Kennedy for £11.6s.11d; the carpentry work was done by Hugh Gowdy for £10. 15s.4½d; and the slating work by James Parker. The first pews in the house were built by Thomas Kennedy and Andrew McClenahan.
The Presbytery met in Rathfriland for the first time on 6 September 1802, when the congregation presented them with a petition praying for a Minister and the Presbytery strongly recommended a union with Annaclone, but they disagreed on the choice of a Minister. The union of the two congregations was then dissolved, and Rathfriland Congregation was then granted leave to call a Minister, Mr Thomas Tate, Associate Member. He was the eldest son of Mr James Tate, Coronary, Co Cavan. Mr Tate was ordained Minister in charge of the Congregation on 19 June 1804.
After the retirement of the Rev Harrison, Second and Third Churches combined in 1927 with the Rev Scott as minister.
Ministers who started the Classical School in Second Rathfriland Church Hall.