Exterior & Graveyard

There has been a church in Killinchy since around the 13th century and although the village is a small place, it is alive with centuries of heritage and tradition. 

In the early 17th century, a Scottish laird called Sir James Hamilton obtained lands in County Down which included the parish of Killinchy and settled them with Scottish tenants.  He wanted a gifted preacher for his new community and, in August 1630, he invited a 27 year old Scot called John Livingston to come to Ulster and minister to the settlers. Livingston’s grandfather had been the first Protestant minister in Kilsyth following the Scottish Reformation in 1560, and his father William was a committed Presbyterian.

The present church was built in 1830 at a cost of £1200, and its tower can be seen from miles around. The graveyard is densely packed with stones of all periods from the 17th century, the oldest being dated 1672.