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Rev.
David Arrott
He was the son of
Rev. Andrew Arrott M.A., Dunnichen, near Forfar, Angus, 1716-1745, and Dumbarrow
1745-1760. Born on 6th November 1725, he entered his study of theology in 1745.
His call, to Markethill was signed by seventy-five members and twenty-five
adherents and was sustained by the Synod and accepted by Rev. Arrott, who was
ordained on 22nd June 1749 by the Secession Presbytery of Glasgow. The Antiburghers had
now two settled congregations in Ireland, Lylehill and Markethill. When ordained
he had a very wide district placed under his supervision, and was instrumental
in founding four other congregations within its borders, Moira, Sheepsbridge
(Downshire Road, Newry), Tyrones Ditches and Ahorey. In 1786, part of Markethill
congregation seceded and erected a meetinghouse at Ahorey. In 1798 part of the
congregation again seceded and by early 1799
a new Seceder congregation at
Redrock was erected. Mr Arrott continued as minister of the congregation up to
his death on 16th November 1807, aged eighty-two. He was buried in Kilcluney
(Glassdrummond) graveyard.
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Rev. David Moore M.A.
Second son of James Moore, Aghabeg,
County Monaghan, he graduated M.A., Glasgow 1804, was licensed by Markethill
Antiburgher Presbytery in 1808 and ordained minister of Markethill on 22nd July
1808. In 1809, he married Anne, daughter of Samuel McCullough, of Cladymore. He
was moderator the Antiburgher Synod in 1814.
He died in December 1818. The Rev.
John Moore D.D., Connor and Elmwood, the Rev. Samuel James Moore, Ballycopeland,
Donaghmore and Third Ballymena (Wellington Street.) and Robert McCullough Moore
who emigrated to Canada, were sons.
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Rev. Robert Morrison
Son of Philip Morrison, Ahorey, he was
educated at Glasgow in 1812 and the
Associate Anti-Burgher Theological Hall, was licensed to preach by the
Markethill Anti-Burgher Presbytery in 1818, and ordained here on 1st September
1819, In the same year he married a daughter of William Moody, of Poyntzpass.
They had 6 children, John Moody, Philip James, David Harbison, Thomas, Sallie
and Ann. Mr Morrison was
chosen Moderator of the Secession Synod 1834-35. Mr Morrison did not take his
congregation into the General Assembly unto 1845 and placed under the care of
Newry Presbytery. He died at Sandy Hill, Laurelvale, Tandragee, on 31st August
1860, having only a few months earlier asked leave to retire.
He is buried in the graveyard attached to the Meeting House, and a square
monument, near the Meeting House, marks his grave.
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Rev. Robert Mitchell
Son of Robert Mitchell, farmer, Drumnagore, he was born in
1830, licensed by the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow, and ordained here on
26th June 1861. Mr Mitchell resigned from the congregation on 29th August 1882
and was installed at Leckpatrick on 21st September 1882. He retired in 1900 and
died 13th January 1901, aged 70 years.
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Rev. Hugh MacFarlane M.A.
Son of James
MacFarlane and was born at Letterbrack, Plumbridge. He was licensed by Strabane
Presbytery, was ordained minister of the congregation on 27th March 1883. He
seems to have been a brilliant scholar, as it is reported of him, "At a
recent competitive examination held in Queen’s College, Galway, Mr McFarlane,
obtained the Senior Scholarship, value forty pounds, on Nature Science."
During his ministry, in 1890, the congregation obtained
and built a Manse. Mr McFarlane died on 11th February 1910, aged
56 years.
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Rev. William James McConnell B.A.
The son of George
(Merchant) and Mrs. McConnell of Kerrykeel, County Donegal, 16th April 1885,
licensed by Letterkenny Presbytery 1901, ordained at Dromore, on the 25th
November 1909, was installed in this congregation on Wednesday, 18th May 1910.
On 22nd June 1911, he married Miss Margaret Stewart (Madge) Small, daughter of
Robert and Mrs Small of Markethill. They had two sons the Rev. Brian McConnell
M.A., D.D., minister of Donore, Dublin, who died 12th February 2005 and Robert
Hay Stewart (Rory), born 25th July 1912 and killed while on active service on
23rd August 1940. Mr. McConnell, like many during this period, volunteered to
the call for men in the Great War. He went first in 1915, as a Chaplain to the
Forces in France, with the 16th Irish Division and subsequently at General
Headquarters, where among those who attended his services was Earl Haig. Mr.
McConnell was twice mentioned in dispatches. Mr. McConnell continued minister of
the united Congregation of First and Second Markethill Presbyterian Church
(united on 1st November 1919).
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Rev. William James McConnell B.A.
The Rev. W. J.
McConnell, was inducted into the united congregation at a service on the 12th
November 1919. In 1924, Mr. McConnell suffered a severe breakdown in his
health, due to War injuries, and with no improvements in his health Mr.
McConnell was forced to retire as minister of the congregation on 15th June
1925. He went to live in Belfast, where in 1931 he again took up the
ministry and served as a minister in the new Church at Stormont, where he stayed
until 1936. He died on 15th February 1956.
Rev. Thomas Hastings Witherow B.A.
The son of the Rev.
William and Mrs Witherow. His father was successively minister of First
Donaghadee, First Killyleagh and Westbourne Belfast. He was educated at Campbell
College 1902, Academical Institution Belfast 1909, graduated Queens University
1912, Magee College 1914, and became a student for the ministry under the care
of the Belfast Presbytery. On outbreak of War in 1914, he received a Commission
in The Ulster Division, and until May 1918 served with that Division during the
hard fighting. Before Armistice in 1918, he was given a permanent Commission in
the Indian Army and took part, with his regiment, in the fighting against the
Bolshevists in Russian Turkestan in 1919. In 1920 he was engaged on active
service in connection with the Afghan War and received the Afghanistan Medal in
1920, he also served in Persia and on the North-West Frontier of India. In
January 1923, he resigned his Commission and was placed on the retired list,
being permitted to retain his rank of Captain. Having resumed his studies, he
was licensed by Belfast Presbytery on 16th May 1923 and became assistant
minister in First Derry the same year. He was ordained as minister of the
congregation on 3rd. February 1926. In 1948, Mr Witherow married Miss Olive
Wilson B.A., in St. John’s, Malone, Belfast. In 1963, he was Moderator of the
Synod of Armagh and Down. He retired from active ministry on 30th April 1963 and
went to reside in Bangor and in the late 1970’s moved to Newcastle. He died on
1st September 1989, in his 99th year.
Rev. John Hendly Rankin B.A.
Son of George and
Mrs. Rankin of Moneymore. After his early education at Moneymore Primary School,
he entered Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt. In pursuit of his ambition, to
become a minister of the Church, he entered Magee College, Derry, and Trinity
College, Dublin, and having completed his courses at these Colleges he entered
upon his theological course at Assembly’s College, Belfast. Licensed by the
Presbytery of Tyrone on 6th December 1945, he became for one year an assistant
in Crumlin Road, Belfast, in 1946, and was ordained in Loughaghery on 7th Mary
1947. During the latter part of the Second World War, Mr. Rankin served with the Y.M.C.A., in England and North-West Europe. Shortly after his ordination in
Loughaghery, he married Miss Dorothy A. Russell, of Belfast, on 14th August
1947. He was Installed here on 18th September 1963. In 1979 he was Moderator of
the Synod of Armagh and Down. Mr Rankin retired from active ministerial duties
on 1st November 1988. He died on 27th November 1993, and
is buried in the graveyard attached to the Upper Meeting House.
Rev. Robert Ian Alexander Allely, B.A., B.D.
Installed on 16th
March 1990 – son of Bob and Doreen Allely, he was born in Tralee, Co. Kerry, on
31st January 1947.
After his early education at the local Church of Ireland
National School (1951 – 1958), he entered Bandon Grammar School, County Cork, as
a Boarder, from 1958-61 when the family moved to Gorey, County Wexford (his
father was promoted to Manager of a local Bank). Moving to Sandford Park School,
Dublin in 1961, he passed the Intermediate Certificate with honours in 1962 and
Trinity Matriculation in June 1964. Particularly keen on all sports he
represented the School at Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Athletics and Golf. Playing
for Leinster Inter-provincial Schools Hockey Team and played for Dublin YMCA
from age 15.
On leaving school he entered the banking profession and
worked all over the Republic of Ireland. Played rugby for Athlone and Sligo and
Hockey for Belfast YMCA and Pembroke Wanderers. Represented Leinster at hockey
and played cricket for Leinster CC and Ardamine Ramblers (County Wexford). He
also engaged a little in Rallying (driving a Woolsey Hornet) and singing in a
band!
Transferred by the Bank to Belfast in June 1968 he joined
Belfast YMCA Hockey and Cricket Clubs and became a member of Knock Golf Club and
also Kirkliston Castle Golf Club.
After his arrival in Belfast he was Converted to the Lord at
a meeting in the YMCA Wellington Hall, Belfast at which Stuart Briscoe was the
preacher. He joined Fitzroy Presbyterian Church where Rev Roy Alexander was the
minister.
In October 1971, he married Isobel Bristow and set up home in
Templepatrick. During 1973 he was promoted to Assistant Manager which
necessitated moving house to Belfast, where they became members of Strand
congregation, and it was here that their children Peter (born 1974) and Susan
(born 1976) were baptised. He was appointed to the staff of the Irish Mission in
1980, as the Superintendent’s Assistant and was commissioned in Strand
Presbyterian Church (The first Irish Mission staff member to be commissioned).
He felt the call to the ministry in 1981 and was accepted as
a student by the East Belfast Presbytery in 1982. Starting his studies in 1982
at the University of Ulster (Jordanstown), he graduated in 1985 with an honours
B.A. degree in Geography & History. During this period he served as Summer
Assistant in Donegal, Carnlough and Belfast. Entering Queen’s University,
Belfast in 1985 he graduated with a B.D. in 1988. During this period he served
as a Summer Assistant in Donegal again and was appointed Assistant Minister in
Knock congregation in 1987 and was ordained by East Belfast Presbytery in
January 1989. He continued to play hockey and cricket at senior level and golf
as often as possible, retiring from hockey and cricket at the ripe old age of
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