St Nicholas
Carrickfergus, County Antrim
The jewel in the crown of Carrickfergus; a unique Norman church which perfectly complements the Castle.
On 24July 1756, John Wesley preached his first sermon in the Session House at Carrickfergus, in all he preached eight times there between 1756 and 1778, the last one being when he was 78 years old.
The town of Whitehead had remained a small community of a few houses and a Coastguard Station until the coming of the railway in 1862.This enabled the growing town to become a popular seaside resort and in 1896 negotiations began to lease a central site in the town for construction of the Methodist Church which was opened in June 1900.
The church is in Arts & Crafts style and has five elegant stained glass windows the most impressive of which is dedicated to the first minister of the church, Revd Richard Cole who served there until his retirement in 1921. It is based on the text 'Suffer the little children to come unto me', and above this window is an circular octofoil window showing two angels with the text 'For of such is the kingdom of Heaven', again reflecting the regard in which the Revd Cole was held. They were unveiled in 1926. Alongside these are a pair of stained glass windows with medallions celebrating the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The porch window is contained within an elegant timber tracery.
The manse occupies a site immediately adjacent to the church and was built in 1908 and the architect's original watercolour sketch of the building together with the illuminated address presented to Rev Cole on his retirement is on display in the church.