Connect Church Lurgan began in the 1930s using a rented wooden building in Windsor Avenue, Lurgan. When the building was sold some years later, another rented building was found, located off the town’s Market Street. Access to this building was by means of a gateway near the town’s war memorial. Although there were many times of blessing in this building, it was damp and very hard to heat.
During the early months of World War Two, a regiment of the Welsh Guards was stationed in Lurgan. Some of these young soldiers heard the Welsh minister, Pastor J.F.Phillips, preaching at an open air service in the town. They recognised a fellow countryman and began to attend the services on a regular basis. They were warmly welcomed by the congregation and each Sunday night, after the Gospel service, there was a time of tea and refreshments followed by hymn-singing around the organ. One soldier married the organist in 1942 and they made their home in Lurgan. The young Welsh man was a member of the church until his death in 1997 and during these fifty-five years brought much blessing and encouragement to the congregation through his anointed solo singing.
In the mid 1940s, the fellowship moved into the Town Hall on Union Street. Shortly afterwards, the decision was made to purchase a building instead of renting accommodation. A garage on Bridge Street came on to the market and this was then purchased. After some repairs and renovations, the building was officially opened in 1948. There were many times of great blessing and celebration in this church with a convention being held every Christmas.
In 1952, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the church which lasted several months. Over one hundred people were baptised in the Holy Spirit with people coming to the church from as far away as Armagh and Monaghan. The church was packed to capacity every Thursday night and all were greatly encouraged by the ministry of Pastor BJ Noot.
Since the 1950s, several young men from the congregation have become pastors in the wider Apostolic Church fellowship, serving God in the British Isles as well as overseas. Most are now retired but two are still working as pastors.
Pastor Billy and Angela English were missionaries in Brazil for seventeen years and now pastor the Verdun Community Church in Montreal, Canada.
Pastor Ivor and Alice Douglas have been missionaries in South Africa since 1989.
Adjacent to the church building were several lock-up garages owned by a local business man. The congregation were able to buy these garages in the 1980s and eventually they were demolished. A minor hall, kitchen and toilets were built on the site. The congregation held their services in this minor hall while the main building was completely rebuilt. The whole complex was opened in June 1984 and it is in this building that the congregation worships today.
In 2018, the church was renamed as the Connect Church, Lurgan and it is still part of the Apostolic Church, Great Britain and Ireland.