SLIGO CHURCH HISTORY

Rev. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, visited Sligo a total of eleven times between 1758 and 1789. His journal records that his preaching in the town was generally poorly received. However, a small number of his followers opened a meeting-house in Bridge St. about 1775; it was described as "a small tumble-down building with a thatched roof". In 1802, a new church was opened in Linenhall St. (now Old Market St.), and in 1832 this was replaced by the present building in Wine St. which was completed at a cost of £800. It was opened by Rev. Alexander Mackey of Antrim, who drove from Antrim to Sligo in his pony-trap

Many years later, the Wine St. premises still house a lively congregation which has increased in numbers over the last few years. Adjoining the church is a new hall and suite of meeting rooms, which was completed in 2001 and opened by the then President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev. S. K. Todd. At present, the church building in not in use due to the dangerous condition of the electric wiring, and meetings are held in the hall while plans are being drawn up for the renovation of the church.

The manse, where the minister resided, was built next door to the church sometime after the construction of the church, but its condition deteriorated over the years. In 1980 a new modern bungalow was built at Ardaghowen, less than 1 mile from the church, and the present minister on the circuit, Rev. Stephen Taylor, and his family live there.