Special event this week to mark Omagh church’s 100th anniversary

THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Omagh is celebrating a significant milestone this year – 100 years of continuous worship in the town.

To mark the occasion, the Omagh Branch is hosting an Open Day on Saturday, May 31, from 2pm to 3pm at the church on the Beltany Road. All are welcome to attend and learn more about the church’s history and community.

The Church is also appealing to anyone with old photographs or documents related to its past to get in touch via jarlathbrophy@churchofjesuschrist.org.

The history of the Latter-day Saints in Omagh can be traced back to 1908, when Mormon missionaries first visited the area. The first official place of worship was established in 1925 at the home of Omagh man John Moore, who had joined the church in 1910 after meeting missionaries.

On December 23, 1925, Mr Moore opened his home as a meeting place for fellow worshippers.

From there, the local congregation began to grow, meeting in various houses around the town over the years. In the late 1930s, land was acquired on the Beltany Road, where a small church was later built. The current church building opened in 2012.

Today, the Omagh Branch has a thriving community, with around 30 local families attending Sunday services. Nearly half of the current congregation is originally from the Philippines, where the Latter-day Saints have a strong presence.

Branch president Jarlath Brophy said the church has experienced its share of ups and downs, but the local community has remained resilient and welcoming.

“When I tell people that there has been an Omagh Branch of the church for 100 years, they don’t believe me,” he said. “We have many members who have been worshipping here since the 1970s, and recently we’ve welcomed many new families from the Philippines.”

In addition to religious services, the church serves as a hub for social activities, including table tennis and pickleball. The building also includes classrooms and a full submersion baptismal font – a significant improvement from earlier years, when members had to travel to Derry or Belfast for baptisms.

In the 1970s, some were even baptised in the Strule River.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Open Day, Jarlath added, “We’re inviting everyone to come along, have a look inside the church and learn about our history here in Omagh. People might be surprised at just how strong and longstanding the community is.”