About Us

Brief History of First Missionary

First Missionary Church began in the early 1920s in the hearts of men and women of God from the parish of Manchester and the Devon and Ritches churches who had the vision to establish a ‘rescue mission’ in Kingston, not far from the waterfront. The group met at 55 Church street in a little building called the ‘The Hole in the Wall’ and the ministry was called “The Life-Line Mission.” There, men and women were confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ and urged to surrender their lives to Christ.

In 1928, the group of zealous believers moved across the street to 58 East Street in a Jewish Synagogue which was purchased for just over one thousand pounds. The fellowship grew into a church that was called the memorial tabernacle in memory of the wife of the first pastor , Rev. George McClare, who was a major contributor towards to purchase of the property.

The fellowship was originally affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination and later ‘adopted’ by the Missionary Church Association in Jamaica in 1949.

The name was changed from Memorial Tabernacle to First Missionary Church in 1956. The church building was badly damaged by hurricane Charlie in 1951 and had to be substantially renovated.

FMC was the first to be established in the denomination in Eastern Jamaica. By 1979, membership numbered about 400 including overseas members.

Throughout the years, the truth of the gospel has been faithfully proclaimed, other fellowships have been birthed, ministers and missionaries has been sent out and ministries have been implemented to meet some of the emotional, spiritual and economic needs of the membership of the community.