Kilkeel Presbyterian Church in County Down is launching a new book titled ‘Kilkeel Presbyterian Church, the First 200 Years: a History of the “Wee Meeting”’ on Thursday, 5 March at 8pm. The event will take place at the church on Newcastle Street, Kilkeel, with refreshments provided.

The book, written by church members Ruth Reilly and Ruth Bird, documents the church's history over two centuries. Reverend Stephen Johnston, the church minister, noted that the title refers to the local nickname 'the wee meeting' used to distinguish it from Mourne Presbyterian Church, known as 'the big meeting'. The launch marks the start of the church's bicentenary celebrations.

A free photographic exhibition will accompany the book launch, running until Monday, 9 March in the Samuel Donaldson Hall at the church. The display features photos submitted by church members and those published in local newspapers, presented chronologically over the past 200 years.

The exhibition will be open during the book launch and on specific times: Friday, 6 March from 10am to noon and 6.30pm to 8.30pm; Saturday, 7 March from 10am to noon and 2.30pm to 4.30pm; Sunday, 8 March from 2.30pm to 4pm; and Monday, 9 March from 10am to noon.

The book will be available for purchase at the launch, during the exhibition, and at the Faith Mission Bookshop on Greencastle Street in Kilkeel. Reverend Johnston stated that additional events are planned for the bicentenary year.