PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND. The Irish Presbyterian church originated in the settlement of Ulster by Scottish colonists during the reign of James I. After various struggles, a Presbyterian church was founded by the formation of a presbytery at Carrickfergus in 1642. The Presbyterian population of Ulster was greatly increased in number by immigration from Scotland about the middle of the 17 1 -.LI C.; and notwith standing many difficulties, from the opposition of prelates and of the civil power, the church continued to increase. It is a curious fact that the Presbyterian ministers received a pension from government, under Charles II., in 1672, which rugium doitum however, was not regularly paid until the reign of William, when it was augmented, although only to the paltry amount in all of 1'200 a year. It was afterward repeatedly augmented, till it reached the amount of £70 for each minister. A seminary for the education of ministers was erected at Killaleagh; and in 1710, the synod of the Presby terian church resolved to institute the preaching of the gospel to the Irish in their own language. During this period of its history, the Irish Presbyterian church, experienced the utmost opposition from the high church party. Afterward, dissensions sprung up within it, and these with reference to the most important doctrines. A body opposed to the doctrine of the Westminster confession of faith was organized as the presbytery of Antrim. But the doctrine of the Westminster confession was more and more departed from in the Irish Presbyterian church itself, which became to a large extent Arian or Unitarian. In 1S30, a separation took place from the Arians, who then formed the
synod of Ulster. In 1840, a union took place of the Irish Presbyterian church forming the synod of Ulster, and the secession church in Ireland, an offshoot of the Scot tish Secession church, which then reckoned 141 congregations in the u. of Ireland. The Irish Presbyterian church now consists of about 600 congregations, and has not only displayed much zeal for the advancement of Protestantism in Ireland, but also of Christi anity in other parts of the world, and supports a very successful mission in Guzerat The act disestablishing the Irish church in 1869, provided also for the discontinuance of the re-gium donusn to the Presbyterians, with reservation of annuities for life to minis ters already entitled to it; and further gave power for commutation of annuities for a capital sum, of which advantage has been taken to a very large extent, so that a fund has been formed for paying annuities and eaving a large surplus as the nucleus of a sustentation fund for the ministers in time to come. The liberality of the numbers of the church has at the same time been called forth to a greater degree than before.
PRES'BYTERY,.the space in the choir of a church in which the high altar is placed; the name is sometimes extended to the whole choir.