Ballygowan period, and subsequent to the introduction of the Belfast & County Down Railway in 1850, that the village began to grow. Ballygowan railway station opened on 10 September 1858, but finally closed on 16 January 1950. After the railway closed in 1950 the village became an attractive "dormitory" town and the ensuing 50 years have seen rapid growth. On Monday, 15 September 2014, the remains of The Baron Bannside (better known as The Rev. Ian Paisley) were buried in the graveyard attached to Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church. Lord Bannside was a former First Minister of Northern Ireland and a former
Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland) Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland) The Anglican Archbishop of Armagh is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Ireland, bearing the title Primate of All Ireland, the metropolitan of the Province of Armagh and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Armagh. The diocese traces its history to Saint Patrick in the 5th century, who founded the See. His current successor is Bishop Richard Clarke, who was enthroned at his cathedra in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh on 15 December 2012 and signs as "+Richard ARMAGH". Saint Patrick, having received some grants of land from the chieftain Daire, on