Fort Manse

Thirteen acres, three roods and twelve perches or thereabouts, the property of the late Mrs Mackin for sale by Public Auction, on Thursday, 28th March 1889, greatly interested the congregation and they appointed four members of the congregation with full powers to purchase same "at what they considered a fair price." They reported back to a congregational meeting the next night that they had secured the land at fourteen pounds per acre.

In May 1889, they decided they would build a Manse "for the congregation [Second Markethill] and not in connexion with the General Assembly."

Things started to move in regard to the building of the Manse, when in January 1890 an architect was appointed. Joseph Small, of Banbridge was the Builder, Robert Fullerton "gave permission to quarry stones in his land on agreement and that suitable sand could be found at either Richhill or Ahorey".

During the vacancy in 1963, the committee decided that with the Manse vacant, now was an appropriate time to carry out some renovations and modernisation of the kitchen, bathroom and other apartments, with rewiring and new electrical fittings, the installation of background heating and re-decoration of interior and exterior. This work was still in progress at the time of the installation of the new minister (Rev John Rankin). He and his family lived in a large caravan placed in the Manse grounds, until the work was completed.

Again, during the vacancy, (November 1988 - March 1990) extensive refurbishment of the Manse was carried out at a cost of £90,000.00. This work involved building a two-storey extension comprising of new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and garage. Re-plastering both interior and exterior and re-roofing the entire structure.