The first Meeting House built for Presbyterians in the Kilrea district was at Moyknock. In 1642 the first church building at Moyknock was burned down. A second church was built in the townland of Boveedy, just outside modern-day Kilrea. This building served the parishes of Kilrea, Tamlaght, Boveedy and Desertoghill. The third meeting house, the first in Kilrea was built in 1770. The building stood a short distance in front of the present church.[citation needed]
The present-day church building or "Scot's Kirk" (English: Scottish [or 'Presbyterian'] Church) as it was called had its foundation stone laid in 1837 and opened for worship in 1839. The funding for the church was provided by the Mercers' Company and built to a design by William Barnes of London.[1]
