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Saintfield is a growing town of 2500 people situated 12 miles from Belfast ( Map ). Its Irish name Tonaghnieve points to religious associations dating back to Celtic times. Presbyterians first settled in the area in the 17th century. The Second Presbyterian Church came in to being in 1796 as a result of the political and theological tension of the time. One of the main battles of the 1798 rebellion was fought in Saintfield. Currently 270 families belong to the congregation which has experienced a growth in membership in recent years. Some have lived in the town or surrounding rural community all their lives while others are newcomers to the area who commute to work in Belfast and the surrounding towns. The Church is family orientated and gives a high propriety to working with its young people through the Sunday School and Bible Classes, the BB and GB, the Youth Club and Youth fellowship, the Parent and Toddler's Group and the Junior Badminton Club. It also seeks to minister to those of more mature years through the PWA & Friendship Group, the Badminton & Indoor Bowling Clubs, and the monthly Lunch Club. The church also seeks to serve the wider community by providing accommodation for Further Education Classes, and for local community organisations. Morning Worship is at 11.00 am. Evening Services are held on the first and third Sundays of each month from October to June at 7.00 p.m. Communion is observed on the first Sunday morning in November, the second Sunday morning in May and the first Sunday evening in January. The present church was opened in 1892 replacing an older church which stood on the same site. The architect was Vincent Craig, brother of Lord Craigavon, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. It is surrounded by a well kept graveyard and additional burial ground has recently been acquired.
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