Townend Street Presbyterian Church (1922)
Belfast: The Shankhill Road mission was held when the political troubles and bloodshed were at their worst in the city; people travelling by tram to the mission had to lie on the floorboards to avoid being hit by rifle bullets. Gunfire could Kirk-session during the services. The invitation to Nicholson was extended by Dr Henry Montgomery who had carried on an evangelistic and social work for a quarter of a century in the area. The first meeting was held in the Albert Hall on the Sunday evening of February 11. Before Mr Nicholson preached in the Albert Hall, he conducted meetings in two other neighbouring churches—Townsend Street Presbyterian in the morning and Agnes Street Methodist Church in the afternoon. A report in the Belfast Newsletter Belfast Newsletter speaks of the services being, "quite phenomenal in their character." Another report in the same paper speaks of the sermon producing, "a deep impression on the congregation and that the after-meeting was crowded." states that the hall was crowded with a most attentive audience, and the sermon was a rousing appeal to church members. Every available corner was occupied and those who could not find a seat stood throughout the entire service. As for the forty-five minute sermon, "there was not a dull moment during its entire delivery, and many were profoundly moved." From 'All for Jesus' by Stanley Barnes, published by Ambassador Productions, p66.