Records of the Congregational Union of Ireland

Repository: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

Identity Statement

TitleRecords of the Congregational Union of Ireland
Archive ReferenceGB 0255 PRONI/CR7/1
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/records-congregional-union-ireland
Creation Dates1829-2001
Extent Medium11 volumes + a small number of miscellaneous documents

Context

Creator(s): Congregational Union of Ireland

  • Administrative History ↴

    Congregationalists or Independents as they were originally known emerged during the English Civil War. They believed in liberty of conscience and the independence of each congregation. They first appeared in Ireland during Lisle's short lord lieutenancy in 1646-7, and returned in force with Oliver Cromwell. They survived after the restoration as a minor dissenting sect. In 1695 there were reported to be six Independent congregations in Ireland. They remained as a relatively small body until the nineteenth century during which period they enjoyed a revival. The census reveals that they grew from 162 adherents in 1861 to more than 10,000 by 1901.

  • Archival History ↴

    Unknown

  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Unknown

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Congregational Union of Ireland ↴

    The records of the Congregational Union of Ireland comprise 11 volumes and a small number of miscellaneous documents, dated 1829-1993. The archive overlaps to a considerable extent with the records of the Irish Evangelical Society (See CR7/2). The bulk of the Congregational Union of Ireland archive consists of 8 minute books of the committee of the Union which chart its inception and development during the nineteenth century.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention

  • Arrangement ↴

    The collection is arranged as follows:
    CR7/1 Records of the Congregational Union of Ireland
    CR7/1/A Congregational Union of Ireland
    CR7/1/A/1 Minute Books
    CR7/1/A/2 Membership Roll and Attendance Register
    CR7/1/A/3 Miscellaneous
    CR7/1/A/4 Magazines
    CR7/1/B Irish Congregational Young People’s Union
    CR7/1/B/1 Minute Book

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions The collection can be consulted in the reading room in PRONI in accordance with PRONI's rules and regulations. http://www.proni.gov.uk/proni_rules_and_regulations_2011
Conditions Governing ReproductionItems may be copied for personal research use only. If a researcher wishes to publish any documents from this collection, a request must be submitted in writing to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
Creation Dates1829-2001
Extent Medium11 volumes + a small number of miscellaneous documents
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Finding Aids A descriptive list is available to search online at: http://www.proni.gov.uk/ Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

Related MaterialPRONI holds the related papers of the Irish Evangelical Society CR7/2
Publication NoteMalcolm Coles 'I will build my Church: The Story of the Congregational Union of Ireland' (1979)

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteIAR Archivist
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997. UK Archival Thesaurus (UKAT)
Date of Descriptions41699