First & Second Markethill Presbyterian Church

 

 

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Ministers of Second Markethill

 

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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).

 

 

 

Ministers of First and Second Markethill

 

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 50!

Mr Allely resigned in June 1997, moving to Dungannon and then Craigavon and Vinecash in 2004.


Rev. Daniel Rankin, B.D. 

Born in Glasgow, Scotland on Easter Tuesday, 19th April 1960, Rev Daniel Rankin is one of a number of Scottish ministers within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

 

Rev Daniel Rankin was educated at Kingsridge Senior Secondary School, Glasgow. After obtaining three “A” levels he joined the Post Office as a Clerk. It was while studying for his “A” levels that he felt God’s call to full time service. Principal Geoffrey Grogan from Bible Training Institute, Glasgow suggested Daniel should find secular employment for a couple of years. If after two years he still felt God’s call then an application to Bible College would be appropriate.

 

So, in September 1980 Mr Rankin left Glasgow to attend Lebanon Missionary Bible College, Berwick-on-Tweed. This was to be three years of blessing and significant change. It was while at Bible College he met Lorraine Clarke, an ex-RUC Officer from Belfast. Danny and Loraine married on 2nd July 1982 after their second year. During their final year they applied to WEC International. They hoped to become Church Planters in Thailand. Graduation came in July 1983, Lorraine received a Diploma of Missionary Training, while Danny received a Dip. Th. from Cambridge University.

 

The Rankin’s spent the next number of years in Thailand. During this time David and Dawn were born. While in Thailand they worked alongside the national church reaching out to villages were the Gospel had never been preached. These were hard difficult days and yet they experienced God’s blessing time and time again.

 

The end of 1989 saw them back in Belfast again for a year of deputation. As the year closed it became clear to Danny that he should apply for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. So he resigned from WEC International and began the long application process. During this time he worked as a bank official with the Ulster Bank.

 

It was during his studies that Stephen, their third child was born. As part of his preparation for ministry Danny was placed as assistant in McQuiston Memorial, Belfast. He graduated in June 1996 receiving B.D. He continued to work in McQuiston until his installation in Markethill on 8th May 1998. On 21st January 2009 he resigned and was installed in Strand Presbyterian Church, East Belfast.


Rev David J. Irvine, B.Sc(Hons), M.Div, Dip.Min.

 

Rev David Irvine was installed as minister of First and Second Markethill Presbyterian Church on Friday, 8th January 2010. He was formerly minister of Albany, Brigh and 1st Stewartstown congregations in the Presbytery of Tyrone, where he served from 1st September 2004 to 7th January 2010.

 

David was born in Enniskillen on 30th September 1962, second son of George and Anna Irvine. He grew up in the congregation of Cavanleck, near Fivemiletown, where he was ordained as an Elder in 1989. After education he worked as an accountant in practice and then spent several years working as a financial director of a manufacturing company.

 

On 2nd August 1986 he married Pauline, daughter of Rev and Mrs Arthur Curry. The wedding service was conducted by the bride's father in Warrenpoint Presbyterian Church.

 

Sensing God's call to the Presbyterian ministry David was accepted as a student for the ministry in 1999 and commenced training at Union Theological College, Belfast the following year. He graduated with a Master of Divinity (with distinction) from QUB in December 2003. Serving his assistantship in Dungannon Presbyterian Church under Rev Bob Allely, a former minister of Markethill.

 

David and Pauline have five children: Matthew (born 1991), Naomi (born 1993), James (born 1995), Lois (born 1999) and Philip (born 2001).


 

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