Tandragee in line for Bible College

THE Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster will be hoping to train a new generation of ministers and missionaries at a new-build base in Tandragee.

The church - founded by the late Rev Dr Ian Paisley at Crossgar in March 1951 - wants to develop a Bible Training College in the County Armagh town.

Proposals have been drawn up and placed before Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

And if given the blessing of the local authority, a new state-of-the-art facility would be constructed close to the town centre.

The applicant in this case is Mr Norman McElroy MBE, from Newtownards - who represents Whitefield College of the Bible - with the plans brought forward by Neil Irvine Design Ltd, of Fivemiletown.

The Bible Training College would be built close to the existing Tandragee Free Presbyterian Church - 30 metres north of it, to be precise, on the Portadown Road.

It is a site which is described in the application by the County Tyrone-based agent as “agricultural lands” in its present form.

Council planning officials have been furnished with detailed drawings of the proposed building, which would also come with a detached garage.

It follows on from a previous application carried forward in 2021.

Presently, training is based at the Paisley Jubilee Complex of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast.

Inaugurated in 1981, the Whitefield College, according to the church website, offers a four-year theological course for candidates for the Christian ministry, as well as a two-year college course for Christian workers and those preparing for the mission field.

In relation to a new Tandragee base, the drawings show the proposed college would be a two-storey structure.

The ground floor would be accessed via a main foyer leading into an entrance lobby, with a seated waiting area.

To the left is the secretary’s office, which sits alongside the principal’s office.

Proceeding further inside and drawings show a large lecture room - capable of accommodating 16 student desks - to the right of the building. To the left is found a substantial-sized boardroom with chairs seated around a large central table.

To the rear of the first floor we find toilet facilities to the left. Other additional features include an ‘Historical Society Strong Room’, a First Aid room, boiler room and storage.

At the centre of the ground floor is both stair and lift access to the first floor.

Taking the stairs or lift bring you onto a landing and, to the left of this, a kitchen and student relaxation area is provided.

It sits next to a student study room.

Directly in front of the stairs is a second small boardroom and, beside it, to its right, a second small lecture room, this time able to accommodate six student desks.

It is on the first floor level that students would also have the opportunity to avail of a large library.

Outside, and the appearance of the building is in keeping with the area, plans would show.

The roof - which boasts skylights - would be covered with natural slate.

And the stone used in the overall construction would, additional information on architects’ drawings points out, “complement the existing church”.

The main foyer would be entered through a glazed front, with Whitefield College of the Bible - founded in 1981 and named after the 18th Century evangelist George Whitefield - on signage over the doors, accompanied by its crest.

Outside and close by the college, provision would also be made for a total of 36 car parking spaces.

When up and running the new Bible Training College would see an average of three staff - as well as 20 others, all students - attending on a daily basis.

According to a transport assessment form, submitted along with the application, students would attend broadly during “normal working hours”. Several would be sharing lifts.

The assessment form states: “Due to the distances involved most people will travel by car to this building. Persons attending will be encouraged to car share where possible.”

There would be “no peak traffic times”, with “lecturers arriving and departing throughout the day”.

The transport assessment says that “committee meetings of similar number will be held at the building on various week nights”, before pointing out there will be “no adverse effect on the surrounding area”.

Various residents living within close proximity of the proposed development - including Ballymore, Willowfield, Knightsbridge and Turnberry Green - have been notified by council officials that an application has been received and will now be looked at.

The proposals have already been forwarded to various statutory bodies for feedback and to date one has responded.

NIE Networks says it has “no objection to make” based on the planning application and associated documentation received.

That said, planning officials will now await any public responses and additional commentary from others consulted before making a determination on the plans as they stand.