Luther's Theses on Martyr's Doors

It was nothing short of a masterstroke by Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley when he ensured that the new building for Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church featured some of Martin Luther's 95 Theses. Rendered in embossed metal plate, the words which effectively sparked the Protestant Reformation in October 1517 appear on the front doors of the Martyrs' church.

Visitors may read:

"When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said repent He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance."

"The pope cannot remit any guilt."

"To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms and set up by the indulgence preachers is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy."

"They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest the soul flies out of purgatory."

While I cannot claim that Martyrs is unique in containing these quotations on its church doors, it certainly represents incredible genius on the part of Dr. Paisley to even think of including them when this building was opened in 1968. Now that the building is listed on the Northern Ireland Monuments and Buildings Record, these doors are protected and will remain as part of our heritage that bears eloquent testimony to the historic dispute between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.