Rathfriland Reformed Presbyterian Church
The present building in which the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation worships is known locally as “The Rock” Meeting House, evidently called so from the nature of its foundation. A stone in the gable bears the following inscription: “Reformed Presbyterian Church, erected 1861.” Very little is known of Reformed Presbyterianism in Rathfriland prior to the settlement of Rev.Samuel Aikin in the united pastorates of Ballylane, Ballybay and Rathfriland.
In the year 1772 the Reformed Presbyterians between the Bridge of Dromore and Donaghadee, Co. Down, issued a call to the Rev. William Staveley, a graduate of Glasgow University to become their Minister.
The call was accepted and he was ordained in Conlig in August, 1772. Soon the bounds of the charge were enlarged beyond the limits named in the call and extended to Newry and Ballybay. He preached often in the neighbourhood of Banbridge and Scarva. He came to Rathfriland also, and so successful was his mission to Rathfriland, that a comfortable and up-to-date slated meeting house was built, with his approval in 1777 on the ground which the present building occupies.
His mission was started in the house of Mrs Bradford at “The Course”, on the Castlewellan Rd, formerly a race course. Another meeting place was at Aughnavallog. He often preached in the open air and in the fields. Mr Stavely was twice imprisoned on the charge of being implicated in the Rebellion of 1798. A Mr Crory from Rathfriland in Mr Stavely’s employment, on several occasions refused information as to the whereabouts of his master.