- published: 26 Jan 2013
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Coordinates: 54°39′25″N 5°54′25″W / 54.657°N 5.907°W / 54.657; -5.907
Newtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course. At the 2001 Census, Newtownabbey Urban Area had a population of 62,056, making it the fourth largest settlement in Northern Ireland.
Largely a residential area the town is also home to many engineering and computer industries. Retail and leisure facilities include the Abbey Centre, the Valley Leisure Centre, the Ballyearl Arts & Leisure Centre, Glengormley Moviehouse, Glengormley Sportsbowl and three large Parks. The main campus for the University of Ulster is based in the Jordanstown area of Newtownabbey.
Newtownabbey Urban Area covers the former civil parish of Carnmoney. It was formed by the merging of seven villages; Carnmoney, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse and Whitewell. It was brought into being on 1 April 1958.
Happy-clappy, or Happy clappers, is a derogatory term originating in the United Kingdom, referring to a style of Christian worship particularly evident in charismatic churches and epitomised by the Toronto Blessing, which became extensive in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The term came into household knowledge in that country in the late 1990s after a reported remark by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, criticising what he perceived as the shallowness of such worship[citation needed].
This style of worship involves joyful congregational worship songs, often accompanied by acoustic guitars and drums in which the congregation clap along to the rhythm of the song, or raise one or both hands in the air, and occasionally dance. Christian critics of this style of worship, of which Runcie was one, object to what they perceive as simply the rousing of emotion rather than properly focusing on God. Supporters counter that this style is more relevant and therefore accessible to ordinary people.