Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland ( Irish At Eaglais Phreispitéireach in Éirinn, Presbyterian Church in Ireland ) is a Presbyterian, Reformed Church in both parts of Ireland, primarily in northern Ireland.

Origin

The Church has its origins in the emigration of Scottish Presbyterians in the Irish province of Ulster in 1600, of which 1642 to the Presbytery of Ulster were formed; the present church was formed by the merger of various Presbyterian groups in 1835. The history of the Irish Presbyterianism was characterized by a variety of spin-offs, to mention here are the Non- Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the Free Presbyterian Church of Ian Paisley.

Today

The Church currently includes claims to some 300,000 members in more than 550 communities and 19 presbyteries, in Northern Ireland has around 21 % of the population to the church, in the Republic of Ireland less than one percent.

Ecumenism

The Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Community of Protestant Churches in Europe and the Irish Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches left the church in 1980 due to his support of South African liberation movements.