In February 2025, staff at Redeemer Central church made a remarkable discovery in the old Donegall Street Congregational Church. As items were cleared from a stairwell, they discovered a small safe containing minute books, historical documents and some correspondence, recessed into the side of the stairs. There is a rather substantial free-standing safe nearby which is locked and can only be opened by a select few individuals, however, this stair safe was unlocked. Inside was a collection of documents, correspondence and books, dating back to the early 20th century. Donegall Street Congregational church had a rather eventful stretch in the early 1900’s. It was destroyed- burned down in a fire in 1931, rebuilt, damaged during the blitz, and finally, (after some further damage during the Troubles), took on the form we see today. Many of these major events, and the decisions that culminated in the building that still stands on Donegall Street, are recorded in these Minute Books…a miraculous find that was thought lost.
Before the archivist of the North Belfast Heritage Cluster begins delving into the ‘behind the scenes’ history of the congregational community from the Donegall Street Church, the documents in the safe helped him solve a mystery that had previously been discovered in that very same stairwell… who was this mysterious man who we found in the old Congregational Church a few years ago!?
In 2023, Redeemer Central were granted a seed fund to frame a number of drawings and historic portraits that were found in the church. One of these portraits was the man pictured above. It was clear that these individuals were important to the history of the Church, but nothing else was known about them. Crucially, the portraits were also unnamed and undated, making any effort in uncovering the individual in the photograph much more difficult. That was, until, the discovery of the items in the stair safe. From these documents, we now know that the man in the picture is Reverend James Wylie.
James Wylie was born in Glasgow, Scotland on the 3rd January 1858. He was the first child of James Wylie Sr and Margaret Douglas. Initially James followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as a mason, but in 1880 began attending the University of Glasgow, where he was taught by, amongst others, one of Belfast’s most famous sons, William Thompson (Lord Kelvin). He then studied in the Theology College in Edinburgh. He was ordained in 1888, and took up a position in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. When Rev. Wylie was asked about his first church by the Belfast Telegraph in 1898, he gave a detailed and fond recollection:
“Mr Wylie describes Inverurie Church as “an oblong building of grey granite, innocent of adornment within or without, at one end a miniature gallery, at the other the pulpit, with a box in front for the choir- the whole sitting accommodation say 250”
After a successful couple of years, Rev Wylie took up a position with Queen Street Congregational Church in Arbroath in Scotland. It was during his tenure in Arbroath that he became a noted advocate for the Temperance movement and was made a Scottish representative at the meeting of the Irish Temperance League, which was being held in Belfast. It was during this visit that he first set foot in Donegall Street Congregational Church.
As described in the history of Donegall Street Congregational Church, Rev Wylie was “destined to become the next pastor of the old church in Donegall Street”, noting that his “eloquent and forcible speeches” at the gatherings of the Irish Temperance League made a significant impression on those in attendance. After he was invited to preach at the church, it was decided (unanimously) to ask Rev. James Wylie to become the pastor at Donegall Street. He accepted, and gave his first sermon on Sunday 6th March 1894.
Under Rev. Wylie’s leadership the church expanded, and established missions in Tennant Street and Hanna Street. The mission on Tennant Street was named in honour of the former pastor, Rev. John White, who had led the Donegall Street Congregation for over 15 years. So synonymous was Rev. White with the Donegall Street Church, that it was still known as White’s Church over a decade later:
“[From 1896]… “Mr Wylie, who presided, said when he asked a carman to “drive to the church in Donegall Street,” the reply had frequently been, “Is It St Anne’s or Mr White’s, Sir?” and, of course, he had stated it was Mr White’s and Mr White’s it was probably destined to remain.”
It is perhaps fitting that, even though the link between Rev. White and Donegall Street Congregational Church has faded with time, he is still prominently remembered on Tennant Street, where the John White Memorial Church (originally the John White Mission Schools, which were established under Rev. Wylie’s leadership) still stand to this day.
Whilst the church expanded its reach through the various missions in Belfast, the church building itself underwent a number of changes under Wylie’s leadership. Among the upgrades were alterations to the front façade, and the installation of electricity inside the church. During this time, the church rented space in the Ulster Hall. It was feared that this upheaval would cause numbers to diminish, but Rev. Wylie’s charismatic sermon’s not only continued to attract the regular members of the church (despite the longer commute) but also attracted newcomers. After 6 weeks in the temporary halls, Rev Wylie wrote:
“The meetings have quite realised our most sanguine expectations, and we hope and pray that they may prove a blessing to many. There is a Scotch proverb which says- ‘Flit an auld tree and it’ll wither,’ but for once proverbial wisdom is found faulty. Our removal has meant an increase, not a decrease of life to the church and we firmly believe that our return to the church will be marked by a further increase.”
Rev Wylie’s success as a pastor in Belfast had attracted significant attention. In July 1900, he received an invitation to take accept the pastorate of Grange Congregational Church in Sunderland. This was one of the most significant Congregational Church in England, and was a significant honour. It was not an honour that Rev. Wylie would accept. It is noted in the minutes of the August 1st 1900 meeting that the chair, Mr Wood “appropriately expressed the sense of satisfaction and relief” that was echoed by the congregation that their pastor had decided to stay put. So grateful were they, that they felt like a further gesture was required to convey their gratitude to both Rev Wylie and his wife Janet for choosing to remain in Belfast. Whenever this idea was raised at a church meeting, it was met with great support, and so the church presented them with gifts including a drawing-room clock, and a diamond ring, each bearing an inscription. They read;
““Presented to Rev. James and Mrs Wylie, together with purse of sovereigns and a diamond ring, as a mark of affection and esteem, from the Congregation of Donegall Street Independent Church, Belfast, 28th November, 1900.” Inside the ring were the words:- “Mrs Wylie, from the Congregation of Donegall Street Independent Church, Belfast, 28th November, 1900.””
Rev Wylie would remain in Belfast for a further 3 years, before accepting a position in Soho Hill Congregational Church in Birmingham in June 1903, marking the end of a successful 9 years in Belfast. It is perhaps testament to Wylie’s character that at his first meeting in Soho Hill, not only were the Chairman and Chairman-elect of the Irish Congregational Union present, but so too were representatives from Donegall Street Congregational Church, who wished to offer their ‘warm commendations’. Although now gone from Belfast, he remained a close friend of his congregation, and indeed, of the city itself, returning at times to preach in his old church. He would remain in Birmingham for 14 years, before moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, and Devon in England before returning to Scotland where he was minister in Insch, Aberdeenshire. When his wife Janet died (sometime around 1937), Rev James Wylie retired from his position in Insch and moved to the South of England, where he settled in Dorset. He died a couple of years later in June 1939, aged 81. Even though he left Belfast 36 years prior, his death was reported in the Belfast Newsletter: an indication of the fondness with which his congregation still remembered him:
“Mr Wylie was held in high esteem in Belfast, and there was much regret when he left. He was an able preacher, and he also had great gifts as a lecturer and speaker. He reciprocated the affection Belfast people bore for him and he made so many friends here that he frequently revisited the city to keep in touch with them.”
Although he predicted that Donegall Street Congregational Church would always remain “Mr White’s Church”, it is clear that the church and its congregation were very much “Mr Wylie’s” until his death.
About the archivist:
James Cromey is the Archive and Project Coordinator for the North Belfast Heritage Cluster. He has a background in Victorian, Industrial and Medical History and has received degrees from the University of Glasgow and Queens University Belfast. All research has been conducted to a high academic standard and has been fully referenced. If you would like to know more about a story or piece of research, or if you wish to tell us about your own story, email us at: archiveproject@nbheritagecluster.org