Our Heritage
Guysmere Camp
A camp for young men was held in Ballyferris, County Down from 15–22 July, 1922 and, in response to a demand from the campers attending, The Boys’ Auxiliary was formed to promote the missionary cause among boys and young men in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Branches were formed in many local congregations.
In 1926 the Boys’ Auxiliary annual camp was moved to Castlerock and held in a field between the golf links and a site called Guysmere. When Guysmere subsequently came on the market the Rev W.J. Wallace Bruce of Aghadowey, a staunch supporter of the Boys’ Auxiliary, bought it with the organisation in mind. For several months it remained in his name until the General Assembly met in 1929 and Guysmere became the property of PCI. Camps were held annually at Guysmere from 1926 until 1969, with the exception of six years during the Second World War (1940-1945).
Every year, missionaries were present at the camp to promote the missionary vision. We know of 23 ‘missionary members’ of the Boys’ Auxiliary who would have spoken to campers. Between them these missionaries served a total of 422 years in the mission field (mostly in India and China) for Christ and His Kingdom
After the final Boys’ Auxiliary camp in 1969, the site continued to be used by ‘Guysmere Camp’ and by other church groups and organisations under the auspices of PCI this included the introduction of Girls’ Camps in 1994.
Guysmere ceased operation in 2009.
Guysmere Camp
A camp for young men was held in Ballyferris, County Down from 15–22 July, 1922 and, in response to a demand from the campers attending, The Boys’ Auxiliary was formed to promote the missionary cause among boys and young men in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Branches were formed in many local congregations.
In 1926 the Boys’ Auxiliary annual camp was moved to Castlerock and held in a field between the golf links and a site called Guysmere. When Guysmere subsequently came on the market the Rev W.J. Wallace Bruce of Aghadowey, a staunch supporter of the Boys’ Auxiliary, bought it with the organisation in mind. For several months it remained in his name until the General Assembly met in 1929 and Guysmere became the property of PCI. Camps were held annually at Guysmere from 1926 until 1969, with the exception of six years during the Second World War (1940-1945).
Every year, missionaries were present at the camp to promote the missionary vision. We know of 23 ‘missionary members’ of the Boys’ Auxiliary who would have spoken to campers. Between them these missionaries served a total of 422 years in the mission field (mostly in India and China) for Christ and His Kingdom
After the final Boys’ Auxiliary camp in 1969, the site continued to be used by ‘Guysmere Camp’ and by other church groups and organisations under the auspices of PCI this included the introduction of Girls’ Camps in 1994.
Guysmere ceased operation in 2009.
Generations Inspired By Guysmere
Many of those who attended Guysmere can testify as to how their lives were shaped through their experience of God’s grace there.
Dessie Kirk (Elder in Garnerville, PCI, Co. Down)
“I was brought up in McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian Church in east Belfast.
When I was in my teens, Jimmy Miskelly encouraged me to join the Boys’ Auxiliary, and I went to my first camp at Guysmere around 1954. I became fully committed to the work of the Boys Auxiliary and was elected to the Central and Executive committees, before I was appointed to be the General Secretary. I acted as the Booking Secretary for the Guysmere site for 39 years.
In 1964 my wife and I joined Garnerville Presbyterian Church and I am now a member of the Kirk Session and the Committee. Over many years we enjoyed great church family holidays in Guysmere, with “campers” aged between 1 and 90 years of age. Everyone in our congregation has wonderful memories of Guysmere and looks forward to seeing it ready to advance Christ’s kingdom once again”.
Frank Sellar (Minister of Adelaide Rd./Donore, PCI Dublin and Bloomfield, PCI Belfast)
“As a teenager I belonged to the Coleraine Crusaders class, a Christian organisation to help young people to mature in their faith. When I first went to Guysmere the original Guysmere House was still there and the place holds many very happy memories of summer camps led by incredible people such as Mr TS Mooney,Mr Haddock and the young and energetic Ian McNee.
We stayed in tents on the lawn and spent time collecting slaters, slugs and bugs to put in Mr Caswell’s straw palliasse.
Three things stand out in my memory as a young lad of 11. One was the time when I was badly sunburnt and one of the leaders was sent out to get me calamine lotion. The second was the annual prune eating competition which was very fiercely contested. That year the winner consumed a magnificent 200 prunes, to rapturous cheers. His reward was staying the night in ‘Buckna’ … the affectionate name given to the boys outside loos. My third memory was listening to the talks given by Camp Padre, Brian Kingsmore, with rapt attention and resolving to dedicate my life to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will be eternally indebted for the influence of Guysmere on my life”.
Jonny Doey
“I grew up in Ballysally, a council estate, in the 1980s. In 1994 I was a teenager but had never been outside Ballysally at all. My mum and dad had to work hard to make ends meet with 9 children in the family.
I remember that in 1995 Ray McKeeman (Youth worker in Ballysally Presbyterian Church) asked me if I would be interested in going to Guysmere Boys’ camp. It would cost £45. I knew that my parents couldn’t afford that with so many to care for. But mothers are wonderful and somehow my mum was able to find £45 for me to go, thankfully. I was about to embark on a journey that would change my life for ever.
I went to Guysmere boys camp as a boy (between 1994-1997) and met lots of new people. I met lots of men, with whom I am still in contact to this day, and their influence changed my life. I heard the gospel and the seeds planted throughout those 4 years were pivotal in my conversion, which undoubtedly altered the direction of my life. Today I am very happy to serve the Lord as the Clerk of Session in Ballysally Presbyterian Church.
For me, Guysmere was a safe haven, especially over the week of the 12th July. If I had not been at the camp, I would certainly have been caught up in far less beneficial activities.
I saw a realism in the chaplains, a heart for people, something that my heart was longing for. I knew the chaplains were normal people – I saw them play football and tennis and lose their cool, but what I saw was an authenticity in them. This was what made me realise that Christianity is not just a set of rules, but a relationship.
I was converted to Christ in 1999 and went on to become the youth worker in Ballysally. My first activity was to take the local boys from Ballysally to Guysemere, which I did for 10 years (2004-2014). It was a safe haven for them as well, but also a place where they would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful to this day that it was there that many from our estate heard the gospel. In fact, our present leadership in Ballysally Presbyterian Church is based on many who heard the Good News of Jesus Christ at Guysmere Centre. This centre has made a huge difference in our area.
My life, physically, mentally and spiritually, is owed to Guysmere Boys’ camp and I know that this is also the case for many others in the Ballysally community. Without this facility, I know that I, for one, would not be alive to tell the tale.”
Louise Abbott
“I attended the first Guysmere Girls’ camp in 1994 and it was there that I became a Christian. I continued attending the camp and became a junior leader, then a leader and, finally, I led the camp for a few years before I headed to India in 2005. There I worked as a teacher in Hebron School (an international school set up for missionaries working in Asia) until 2016.
I certainly have amazing memories of how God worked in my life and the lives of many girls during the years at Guysmere”.
Tommy Wilson (Clerk of Session Adelaide Road PCI, Dublin)
My parents were faithful members of 1st Castleblayney Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday, I was brought to church with my siblings after the milking was done. In the mid-70s, our Minister encouraged me to go to Guysmere. I remember travelling on the bus from Monaghan to Coleraine, a 16-year old boy – my first time away from my family. I was met at Coleraine bus station by Denis McConnell. I shared a tent (A6) with seven lads from Omagh. Our chaplain that year was Rev. Arthur Clarke. That first year, I was more interested in the sport that I was in the morning and evening talks in the marquee. The highlight of my week was getting selected on the camp team to play against the town and I scored in a 9-1 victory. Our goalie was Eddie Maguire from Ballymena. Eddie was the camp adjutant, who went around each morning delivering the reveille bugle call to ensure we got up in time for tent inspection and breakfast, where Bryce Fleming, Dessie Lynas and the Commissariat team were waiting to serve up to 200 hungry lads.
I attended Guysmere for twenty one consecutive years bar one – in 1987, my wife-to-be Jennifer persuaded me to stay at home the year of our marriage because she feared I would come home injured, which I did on many occasions after a hectic sporting week, which included playing football, cricket, volleyball, table-tennis, tennis, bowls and not forgetting the run to the bar mouth and back. For many of these years, I was the camp’s sports officer, having taken over from Bertie Maguire, with Jonny Perry as my assistant.
After Arthur Clarke, we had many more chaplains over the years who preached the gospel faithfully, including Drew Moore, Alastair Bill, Robert Bell, Jim McCaughan, Leslie Addis, Trevor Gribben, Robin Brown, Philip McCrea, Alastair McNeely, James Hyndman, Craig Mawhinney, Mark Neely (apologies, I am probably forgetting some).
During my time at Guysmere, I saw men like Jackie Maxwell, Alan Sheppard, Martin Burrows, Billy Pollock, Robert Hill and many more encouraging young lads in the hope that they would respond to Jesus’ call. That encouraged me over the years to bring lads to camp from Monaghan, Cavan and Dublin. While telling campers about Jesus was the most important aspect of Guysmere, it always gave us (“the Monaghan munchies”) a lift when we regularly beat the Northern Ireland campers and leaders in the sporting competitions.
After four years attending Guysmere, helped by the gospel preaching I heard there and at Presbytery youth events in Monaghan and being challenged by my future wife, I realised believing in Jesus wasn’t enough – I knew that I needed to ask Jesus to forgive me and I gave my life to Him, inviting Him into my heart as my Lord and Saviour. After we got married, we moved to Dublin, where I was joint youth leader (volunteer) in Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church for 15 years. I was elected an Elder there in 1993 and Clerk of Session in 2017.
Guysmere and its leaders (many more than mentioned here) have played a major part in my spiritual development over the years. I pray that Guysmere will soon be recognised again as a place where the good news of Jesus is proclaimed.
Alan Sheppard
“I was privileged to be at Guysmere camp for some 22 years between 1975 – 1997, including as Commanding Officer in 1984 and 1985. There I experienced a wide range of roles from expedition co-ordinator, to cricket umpire and rugby referee, quiz master to sketch writer and speech maker to name but a few. The annual camp has been a significant part of my Christian discipleship journey in at least three ways.
Firstly, in terms of conviction – Guysmere isn’t just a milestone for me but much more a major fork on the road. The challenge and encouragement I received from camp chaplains has had a lasting and substantial positive impact on my life, especially my values, attitudes and beliefs as a Christian. The selfless example of so many Guysmere leaders was a real inspiration to me.
Secondly, Guysmere was a real community – it was so evident that you didn’t want to miss a camp. The amazing camaraderie, the “crack”, the challenge in sports, games, even concert performances gave the camp a really unique feel. I enjoyed the fellowship of so many young men with great talents and leadership potential. As commanding officer I learnt an invaluable lesson, that if you can keep the attention of 200 teenage boys for 10 minutes then you can address any other audience with confidence.
Finally, in retrospect I can see how Guysmere has also played a significant part in my calling. In 1995 towards the end of my involvement with Guysmere I was ordained an Elder in my church. Later I became involved in the organisation of The Mandate, an annual major men’s ministry conference held in Belfast. Taking early retirement I embarked on a six year challenge to take a theology degree at Belfast Bible College. This was successfully completed in 2016. For the past 20 years my heart’s passions have been the Persecuted Church volunteering with Open Doors and a deep interest from a Christian perspective in the major ethical issues our society faces through involvement with CARE NI (Christian Action Research and Education). Since 2019 I have been part of a ministry involved in working for Revival locally, nationally and globally.
I believe that the Guysmere experience and preparation was all part of God’s plan for my life”.
Generations Inspired By Guysmere
Many of those who attended Guysmere can testify as to how their lives were shaped through their experience of God’s grace there.
Dessie Kirk
(Elder in Garnerville, PCI, Co. Down)
“I was brought up in McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian Church in east Belfast.
When I was in my teens, Jimmy Miskelly encouraged me to join the Boys’ Auxiliary, and I went to my first camp at Guysmere around 1954. I became fully committed to the work of the Boys Auxiliary and was elected to the Central and Executive committees, before I was appointed to be the General Secretary. I acted as the Booking Secretary for the Guysmere site for 39 years.
In 1964 my wife and I joined Garnerville Presbyterian Church and I am now a member of the Kirk Session and the Committee. Over many years we enjoyed great church family holidays in Guysmere, with “campers” aged between 1 and 90 years of age. Everyone in our congregation has wonderful memories of Guysmere and looks forward to seeing it ready to advance Christ’s kingdom once again”.
Frank Sellar
(Minister of Adelaide Rd./Donore, PCI Dublin and Bloomfield, PCI Belfast)
“As a teenager I belonged to the Coleraine Crusaders class, a Christian organisation to help young people to mature in their faith. When I first went to Guysmere the original Guysmere House was still there and the place holds many very happy memories of summer camps led by incredible people such as Mr TS Mooney,Mr Haddock and the young and energetic Ian McNee.
We stayed in tents on the lawn and spent time collecting slaters, slugs and bugs to put in Mr Caswell’s straw palliasse.
Three things stand out in my memory as a young lad of 11. One was the time when I was badly sunburnt and one of the leaders was sent out to get me calamine lotion. The second was the annual prune eating competition which was very fiercely contested. That year the winner consumed a magnificent 200 prunes, to rapturous cheers. His reward was staying the night in ‘Buckna’ … the affectionate name given to the boys outside loos. My third memory was listening to the talks given by Camp Padre, Brian Kingsmore, with rapt attention and resolving to dedicate my life to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will be eternally indebted for the influence of Guysmere on my life”.
Jonny Doey
“I grew up in Ballysally, a council estate, in the 1980s. In 1994 I was a teenager but had never been outside Ballysally at all. My mum and dad had to work hard to make ends meet with 9 children in the family.
I remember that in 1995 Ray McKeeman (Youth worker in Ballysally Presbyterian Church) asked me if I would be interested in going to Guysmere Boys’ camp. It would cost £45. I knew that my parents couldn’t afford that with so many to care for. But mothers are wonderful and somehow my mum was able to find £45 for me to go, thankfully. I was about to embark on a journey that would change my life for ever.
I went to Guysmere boys camp as a boy (between 1994-1997) and met lots of new people. I met lots of men, with whom I am still in contact to this day, and their influence changed my life. I heard the gospel and the seeds planted throughout those 4 years were pivotal in my conversion, which undoubtedly altered the direction of my life. Today I am very happy to serve the Lord as the Clerk of Session in Ballysally Presbyterian Church.
For me, Guysmere was a safe haven, especially over the week of the 12th July. If I had not been at the camp, I would certainly have been caught up in far less beneficial activities.
I saw a realism in the chaplains, a heart for people, something that my heart was longing for. I knew the chaplains were normal people – I saw them play football and tennis and lose their cool, but what I saw was an authenticity in them. This was what made me realise that Christianity is not just a set of rules, but a relationship.
I was converted to Christ in 1999 and went on to become the youth worker in Ballysally. My first activity was to take the local boys from Ballysally to Guysemere, which I did for 10 years (2004-2014). It was a safe haven for them as well, but also a place where they would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful to this day that it was there that many from our estate heard the gospel. In fact, our present leadership in Ballysally Presbyterian Church is based on many who heard the Good News of Jesus Christ at Guysmere Centre. This centre has made a huge difference in our area.
My life, physically, mentally and spiritually, is owed to Guysmere Boys’ camp and I know that this is also the case for many others in the Ballysally community. Without this facility, I know that I, for one, would not be alive to tell the tale.”
Louise Abbott
“I attended the first Guysmere Girls’ camp in 1994 and it was there that I became a Christian. I continued attending the camp and became a junior leader, then a leader and, finally, I led the camp for a few years before I headed to India in 2005. There I worked as a teacher in Hebron School (an international school set up for missionaries working in Asia) until 2016.
I certainly have amazing memories of how God worked in my life and the lives of many girls during the years at Guysmere”.
Tommy Wilson
(Clerk of Session Adelaide Road PCI, Dublin)
My parents were faithful members of 1st Castleblayney Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday, I was brought to church with my siblings after the milking was done. In the mid-70s, our Minister encouraged me to go to Guysmere. I remember travelling on the bus from Monaghan to Coleraine, a 16-year old boy – my first time away from my family. I was met at Coleraine bus station by Denis McConnell. I shared a tent (A6) with seven lads from Omagh. Our chaplain that year was Rev. Arthur Clarke. That first year, I was more interested in the sport that I was in the morning and evening talks in the marquee. The highlight of my week was getting selected on the camp team to play against the town and I scored in a 9-1 victory. Our goalie was Eddie Maguire from Ballymena. Eddie was the camp adjutant, who went around each morning delivering the reveille bugle call to ensure we got up in time for tent inspection and breakfast, where Bryce Fleming, Dessie Lynas and the Commissariat team were waiting to serve up to 200 hungry lads.
I attended Guysmere for twenty one consecutive years bar one – in 1987, my wife-to-be Jennifer persuaded me to stay at home the year of our marriage because she feared I would come home injured, which I did on many occasions after a hectic sporting week, which included playing football, cricket, volleyball, table-tennis, tennis, bowls and not forgetting the run to the bar mouth and back. For many of these years, I was the camp’s sports officer, having taken over from Bertie Maguire, with Jonny Perry as my assistant.
After Arthur Clarke, we had many more chaplains over the years who preached the gospel faithfully, including Drew Moore, Alastair Bill, Robert Bell, Jim McCaughan, Leslie Addis, Trevor Gribben, Robin Brown, Philip McCrea, Alastair McNeely, James Hyndman, Craig Mawhinney, Mark Neely (apologies, I am probably forgetting some).
During my time at Guysmere, I saw men like Jackie Maxwell, Alan Sheppard, Martin Burrows, Billy Pollock, Robert Hill and many more encouraging young lads in the hope that they would respond to Jesus’ call. That encouraged me over the years to bring lads to camp from Monaghan, Cavan and Dublin. While telling campers about Jesus was the most important aspect of Guysmere, it always gave us (“the Monaghan munchies”) a lift when we regularly beat the Northern Ireland campers and leaders in the sporting competitions.
After four years attending Guysmere, helped by the gospel preaching I heard there and at Presbytery youth events in Monaghan and being challenged by my future wife, I realised believing in Jesus wasn’t enough – I knew that I needed to ask Jesus to forgive me and I gave my life to Him, inviting Him into my heart as my Lord and Saviour. After we got married, we moved to Dublin, where I was joint youth leader (volunteer) in Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church for 15 years. I was elected an Elder there in 1993 and Clerk of Session in 2017.
Guysmere and its leaders (many more than mentioned here) have played a major part in my spiritual development over the years. I pray that Guysmere will soon be recognised again as a place where the good news of Jesus is proclaimed.
Alan Sheppard
“I was privileged to be at Guysmere camp for some 22 years between 1975 – 1997, including as Commanding Officer in 1984 and 1985. There I experienced a wide range of roles from expedition co-ordinator, to cricket umpire and rugby referee, quiz master to sketch writer and speech maker to name but a few. The annual camp has been a significant part of my Christian discipleship journey in at least three ways.
Firstly, in terms of conviction – Guysmere isn’t just a milestone for me but much more a major fork on the road. The challenge and encouragement I received from camp chaplains has had a lasting and substantial positive impact on my life, especially my values, attitudes and beliefs as a Christian. The selfless example of so many Guysmere leaders was a real inspiration to me.
Secondly, Guysmere was a real community – it was so evident that you didn’t want to miss a camp. The amazing camaraderie, the “crack”, the challenge in sports, games, even concert performances gave the camp a really unique feel. I enjoyed the fellowship of so many young men with great talents and leadership potential. As commanding officer I learnt an invaluable lesson, that if you can keep the attention of 200 teenage boys for 10 minutes then you can address any other audience with confidence.
Finally, in retrospect I can see how Guysmere has also played a significant part in my calling. In 1995 towards the end of my involvement with Guysmere I was ordained an Elder in my church. Later I became involved in the organisation of The Mandate, an annual major men’s ministry conference held in Belfast. Taking early retirement I embarked on a six year challenge to take a theology degree at Belfast Bible College. This was successfully completed in 2016. For the past 20 years my heart’s passions have been the Persecuted Church volunteering with Open Doors and a deep interest from a Christian perspective in the major ethical issues our society faces through involvement with CARE NI (Christian Action Research and Education). Since 2019 I have been part of a ministry involved in working for Revival locally, nationally and globally.
I believe that the Guysmere experience and preparation was all part of God’s plan for my life”.