Daniel Rankin profile
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. It is interesting
that we should have a Scottish minister as we celebrate 400 years of
Presbyterian witness in Markethill. Our first minister was from Scotland
as were the founding fathers of our Church.
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 in May 1998.
