The Rev Gabriel Cornwall – 1655-prior to 1690
First Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
The
Cornwall
family had come to
Ireland
early in the
Plantation
period and had considerable property in the parishes of Tullynisken and Drumglass near Dungannon. Gabriel Cornwall was a Scotsman, educated at St Andrews, and in 1653 John and Grace Cornwall, his parents, had received permission for their eldest son Gabriel to come to
Ireland
to preach. The exact date of his ordination at Ballywillan is not known; he was present at a meeting of the Antrim Presbytery on 28th August 1655 and in November 1655 he was included in the government list as minister of Ballywillan with a grant of £50 (presumably payment for part of the year). The following year his name is included in a list of 15 ministers who each received a salary of £100 from the government.
Mr Cornwall preached in the old parish church at Crossreagh crossroads until 1661 when he was ejected for refusing to be re-ordained by a bishop when the monarchy was restored. He continued to live at Maddybenny, which was his own property, and continued to work quietly among his own people. He may have lived for a time in
Derry
, for the Register of Derry Cathedral contains the following entry: ‘Nehemiah son of Mr Gabreil Cornwall buried 12 August 1664’ and his name does not appear in the Hearth Money Roll of 1663 in the townland of Maddybenny.
For many years Mr Cornwall had charge of the congregation of Billy (later Bushmills) as well as Ballywillan. He was able to preach in Irish and many years afterwards his ‘remarkable success’ in this field was noted in the records of the General synod, in 1710. Mr Cornwall died in c1688-1690.
Mr Cornwall’s wife was called Katherine, and their children were Samuel, Margaret, William, Mary and Josias. His three sons were educated at
Glasgow
University
. Margaret married Mr King and Mary married Mr Harper. The eldest son, Samuel, became a doctor, and is probably the Samuel Cornwall described as Scotch-English on the books of
Glasgow
University
in 1681. In 1698 he is described as Samuel Cornwall of Curreen in
County
Tyrone
.
The two younger sons, William and Josias, became Presbyterian ministers. William was ordained at Clogher in 1695 where he preached against the system of high rents demanded by the landlord and tithes demanded by the Established Church. He felt so strongly about these injustices in
Ireland
that he resigned in 1718 and emigrated to Casco Bay in
New Hampshire
with members of his congregation. As they had embarked late in the season they suffered severely during the winter, which they had to spend on board their ships. William Cornwall returned to
Ireland
in 1722 and became minister of St Johnston, Co Donegal, until his death in 1735. Josias Cornwall was ordained at Cavanaleck in 1704, but he was deposed in 1738 and never had another charge.
This information compiled from:
The Kirk of Ballywillan since the Scottish Settlement. (Julia E Mullin)
The Presbytery of Coleraine. (Julia E Mullin)
Fasti of the Irish Presbyterian Church 1613-1840 (Presbyterian Historical Society,
Belfast
.)
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The Rev William Houston – 1697c-1721
Second Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
The second minister of Ballywillan, Mr William Houston, was not ordained until some years after Mr Cornwall’s death. Mr Houston was born at Clough, Co. Antrim, and was educated at
Glasgow
University
. In the records of the General Synod held on 2nd June 1697, it is mentioned that Mr Houston has been licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Route. According to the Fasti records, he was ordained at Ballywillan, circa 1698. Like his predecessor, Mr Houston lived at Maddybenny, which he leased from the Earl of Antrim.
Ballywillan, like many other Presbyterian churches at this time, had difficulty in providing for their minister and there are frequent entries in the early Route Presbyterian minutesconcerning the arrears of stipend; indeed in 1705 the Presbytery was ashamed to mention that Ballywillan was ‘ ye worst account in this Presbytery’. As there was no Presbyterian Church in the parish of Ballyachran (Agherton) the Presbyterians in that parish had to attend the church in Ballywillan, and apparently the Agherton people were unwilling to pay their share of Mr Houston’s stipend. Eventually in 1704, when two years’ stipend was unpaid, Mr Houston was suspended for a time from preaching at Ballywillan. The Fasti records mention that he disobeyed the act of Presbytery and was rebuked. In 1705 he was paid some arrears in money and corn but by 1706 when the Presbytery held a visitation at Ballywillan he was owed three full years stipend plus £7 (yearly stipend was £34). The Route minutes ends here, so no further information is available.
On 5th May 1718 Mr James Thompson was ordained as assistant and successor to Mr Houston, and on 6th May 1721 Mr Houston died. Some extracts from his will have survived – he mentions his sons James, Matthew, John, William and Robert and daughters and grandchildren. He leaves a book (a valued possession in the early 18th century) to his son Robert. This is an interesting point, for in the records of the General Synod in 1712 the Route Presbytery reported that they had Robert Howston on trials in order to licensing. Robert Houston V.D.M. was one of the nine ministers signing the commission to Rev William Boyd to go to
America
to find what encouragement the Colonial Government would give to the people of the people of the Bann valley if they emigrated. Unfortunately nothing is known about this licentiate of the route Presbytery, but the fact that Rev William Houston left a book to his son leads Mrs Mullin to believe that Robert Houston, the licentiate, mat well have been his son. Robert probably went to
America
for there is no record of his having a church either in
Ireland
or
Scotland
. Some years ago Mrs Mullin was in touch with a family in
America
who claimed to be descended from a Robert Houston who had emigrated from
Ireland
at about this period. One further interesting point in connection with William Houston’s family – it is recorded in an old session book of Aghadowey that one of his daughters was abducted on a Sabbath day by David Lawson, who subsequently married her.
This information compiled from:
The Kirk of Ballywillan (Julia E Mullin)
The Presbytery of Coleraine. (Julia E Mullin)
Fasti Records: Records of the General Synod of
Ulster
1691-1820 vol 1
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The Rev James Thompson MA – 1718-1747
Third Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr James Thompson was born c 1685, and was educated at
Glasgow
and
Edinburgh
Universities
. He was attending classes at
Glasgow
in 1702 when he is described as Scots-Irish – four years later he graduated MA at
Edinburgh
. He was licensed to preach by the Route Presbytery in 1713 and was without a charge for some years. He was appointed by the General Synod to supply the congregation of Monaghan in October 1714, and in March 1717, and to supply Strabane for the month of December 1716.
Mr Thompson was one of the nine ministers who signed the commission to Mr William Boyd, minister of Macosquin, authorising him to go to New England to find out what encouragement the Colonial Government would give to ministers who wished to emigrate with their people to
America
. However, Mr Thompson decided to remain in
Ireland
, and was ordained at Ballywillan on 5th May 1718, remaining there until his death. He died on 25th January 1747 aged 61.
Very little is known of Mr Thompson’s life and ministry. He married when middle-aged, and as his wife
Alice
died in 1741, aged only 49, the children were left orphans at an early age. The eldest child, Mary, was very capable and brought up the other children although not much more than a child herself. As well as three sons, the Rev James Thompson had at least three daughters – Mary married her father’s successor in Ballywillan. Ellen married the Rev George Murray (minister in Cookstown) and Matty, the unmarried daughter, lived to the age of 96.
James, the eldest son, became a well-known doctor in Coleraine and lived where
Mark & Spencers
now is, in the Diamond. He married Eleanor Smith, daughter of a
Belfast
merchant and had ten children. The youngest of his sons, Dr Samuel Smith Thompson, was one of the doctors interested in founding the
Belfast
Fever
Hospital
. Alicia, the only one of the seven daughters to marry, was the wife of Lieut. Skeffington Bristow, son of the rector of Rasharkin, but he died leaving her with a young family to educate. Alicia’s sisters undertook the education of her two little girls and soon were asked to add other relatives to their class. From this small beginning the Misses Thompsons boarding school in the Diamond developed.
Both Mr James Thompson and his wife Alice were buried in Ballywillan Old Graveyard.
This information compiled from:
The Kirk of Ballywillan since the Scottish Settlement. (Julia E Mullin)
The Presbytery of Coleraine. (Julia E Mullin)
Fasti of the Irish Presbyterian Church 1613-1840 (Presbyterian Historical Society,
Belfast
.)
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The Rev Hugh Gaston – 1748-1766
Fourth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr Gaston was the son of William Gaston of Ballymena, and he and his brother, Alexander, were educated at
Glasgow
. Mr Gaston was licensed by the Route Presbytery in 1745 and ordained at Ballywillan on 23rd February 1748.
Nothing is known of his ministry at Ballywillan, but he wrote a book which was greatly valued by the religious public and which was frequently reprinted. The book, published in 1763, contained 500 pages and was entitled ‘A Scripture Account of the Faith and Practice of Christians, consisting of large and numerous collections of pertinent texts of Scripture upon the sundry articles of Revealed Religion’. In this book Mr Gaston had, with systematic and painstaking labour, collected series of texts bearing upon the main points in the faith and practice of Christians. He explains the book’s purpose in the preface where he writes:
‘Everyone who is acquainted with the Sacred Scripture knows, that the complete account which they contain of any one article of religion is never to be met with altogether in one place, without other subjects intermixed with it, but is to be collected from many different places of the Bible, where the sacred writers have touched upon it’.
‘In every one of the many different places of the Bible where any one article of religion is touched upon, it is still placed in some useful light for instruction, so that none of these places are superfluous. All these places taken together do make up the complete Scripture account of the subject – they contain all the light, which the Spirit of Revelation hath afforded upon it in writing, as needful for instruction – whoever would view the Scripture truth, in all that light afforded, must search the Scriptures for the different places in which it is contained, or where the subject is mentioned. In these places it will be found sufficiently explained, enforced by all its proper motives, applied to all its proper uses, and set in every advantageous light needful for being rightly understood and properly applied, even after extraordinary inspiration hath ceased’.
Mr Gaston’s wife was Mary Thompson (daughter of the minister who preceded Mr Gaston at Ballywillan). They had a large family, including sons Hugh and James and daughters Mrs Nelson, Mrs Rogan, Mrs Rose and an unmarried daughter Mary.
When he entered on his ministry, spirituality was perhaps at its very lowest in the Synod of Ulster. The love of many to the truth had grown cold, and the orthodoxy of some was more than expected. Mr Gaston at least was sound in the faith. Cut off by his position from intellectual circles, and deprived of the advantages derived from the study of many books, he devoted his time to the study of the Holy Scriptures. With marvellous industry and labour selected a series of texts and arranged them into systematic form, with the view of illustrating the main points in the faith and practice of Christians. He accompanies the passages with no comment. He allows each series of proofs to speak for itself. When the reader has examined the various passages under each heading, he is allowed to draw his conclusion as to what the inspired writers intended to teach. The aurthor grasped firmly the grand principle that nothing is a part of Christianity except what is taught in the Bible, and his work is the result of his reception of that principle. The original edition appeared at
Dublin
in 1763, but the various editions which have since issued from the press prove that it has not ceased even yet to be useful. An edition of it was printed at London in 1813, in 1816 it was republished at Glasgow and Edinburgh, and another reprint, corrected, compared and revised, by Joseph Strut, appeared at London in 1824. The last edition I have seen is that of
Aberdeen
in 1847, and perhaps the career of usefulness of this unpretending work is not yet at an end.
Mr Gaston died on 15th October 1766, but there is some doubt as to where he was buried. According to the Fasti he is buried at Ballywillan, but his death is not recorded on the family tombstone, on which appear the names of his wife’s parents, his wife and two of his children. Professor Witherow mentions a tradition that Mr Gaston had to go to
America
owing to pecuniary embarrassment due partly to the poverty of the country and partly to the publication of his book. Mrs Mullin feels that this tradition may be based on reasonably firm grounds as Prof Witherow was a friend of Mr Woodburn, who was minister of Ballywillan a hundred years after Mr Gaston’s death.
Mr Gaston was present at General Synod meetings up to June 1765, so if he did go to
America
it must have been after that date, and he cannot have lived long afterwards. His wife Mary lived to the age of 96 and received a grant from the Widow’s Fund for no less than 57 years. She died on the 27th of February 1823. She lived with her unmarried daughter Mary at Magherabue near Dessertderran and was remembered by descendants as an old lady generally sitting at an ebony spinning wheel.
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The Rev John Abernethy – 1769-1774
Fifth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
The congregation was without a minister until 15th August 1769, when Mr John Abernethy was ordained there. Mr Abernethy was born near Templepatrick in 1736, educated in
Scotland
, and licensed by Templepatrick Presbytery in 1762. He only stayed at Ballywillan for five years, as he was installed at Templepatrick on 12th August 1774.
In 1795 he published a pamphlet entitled ‘Philalethes or Revelation consistent with Reason – an attempt to answer the objections and arguments against it in Mr Paine’s work entitled The Age of Reason’. Professor Witherow observes that Mr Abernethy shows in this work that nothing said by Paine impairs the arguments for Devine revelation founded on miracles and prophecy. Prof Witherow also comments that Mr Abernethy was so economical in his habits, that he wrote the whole pamphlet on the backs of letters, to avoid the expense of buying paper.
Mr Abernethy resigned from Templepatrick on 2nd January 1796, and in 1802 he was deposed ‘ from every part of the ministerial office’ becaused he continued, in spite of remonstrance, to celebrate marriages contrary to the rules of the Synod. He acquired a considerable landed estate and married Miss Thompson of Antrim. He died at Antrim on 8th April 1818, and was buried at Templepatrick.
Prof Witherow quotes from a poem, written by one Moat of Ballyclare and published in 1820, in which the faults and accentricities of Mr Abernethy are not spared – he is described as fond of money, addicted to manual labour, able in argument, and acquainted with various branches of science. The poem ends thus –
‘He was a bright and luminous preacher,
A sound and honest moral teacher,
A subtle abstract metaphysician,
A shrewd and able politician,
In controversy few came near him,
It was delightful for to hear him,
His logic made the clubs to fear him,
He new the system of creation,
For few were found so very pithy
As was old learned Abernethy.’
After Mr Abernethy resigned from Ballywillan, the congregation was once again vacant for several years, as it was not until 23rd April 1779 that Mr Robert Thompson was ordained.
Historical & Literacy Memorials of Presbyterianism in
Ireland
. 1730-1800 Vol 2 T. Witherow
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The Rev Robert Thompson – 1779-1812
Sixth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr Robert Thompson was ordained on 23rd April 1779. Although he lived during the troubled times of the 1798 Rebellion, little is known of his ministry. Some details of his income are available – stipend during part of his ministry was £50 and as well as this under the new system of classification (1803) he would have received £75 Regium Donum.
Mr Thompson was married and had a family of at least three sons and three daughters.
His son, Joseph was tenant of a farm at Craigmount, the farm being leased from James Hannay – this may earlier have been Mr Thompson’s farm. Two of his sons emigrated to
Philadelphia
– William emigrated in 1807 and entered the store of his uncle John Thompson (who was the father of Judge Oswald Thompson), but later William and his brother established their own wholesale grocery and tea business. William was an influential merchant, who did much to build up the commercial prosperity of
Philadelphia
, and was a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In 1815 one of the Rev Thompson’s daughters married the Rev James Wilson, minister of 1st Magherafelt from 1813 to 1854. Mr Thompson’s eldest daughter, Mrs Young, died at her son’s residence, Chestnut Hill,
Philadelphia
, in 1872. Another daughter, Jane, married Mr Charles Logan of Prospect, Magherafelt.
In 1811 it was reported in the Route Minutes that Mr Thompson was ill, and the Presbytery arranged supplies. At the Presbytery meeting in July 1811, John Walker and John Adams, commissioners from Ballywillan, thanked the Presbytery for its care of Ballywillan since ‘their beloved pastor became indisposed’ and for the rest of the year various men were appointed by the Presbytery to preach at Ballywillan.
Mr Thompson resigned in 1812 and died of apoplexy on 10th July 1815. His wife must have predeceased him as it was his family, and not his widow, who received the Widows’ Fund grant. He was buried at Ballywillan.
When
Ballywillan
Church
was rebuilt in 1889 the Misses Thompson of Craigmount presented the handsome stone pulpit, which is still in use today.
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The Rev James Huey – 1812-1862
Seventh Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr James Huey was born at Knockahollet, Co Antrim, in 1785, graduated MA at
Glasgow
in 1808, and in 1810 was licensed by the Route Presbytery. By the end of July a unanimous call to Mr Huey from the congregation of Ballywillan was in the hands of the Presbytery and he was ordained on 1st December of that year. It was stated that his stipend would be £70 per year, though apparently later he did not receive as much as this. At a visitation in May 1830, his yearly stipend was given as £50. In 1835 in the Ordnance Surveyor Memoirs his annual income is given as £119, i.e. £75 Regium Donum and £44 stipend.
During Mr Huey’s ministry a new church was built at Macilvennon West to replace the old one. The new church, built in 1828, cost £600 and the architect was Angus Cameron of Ballymoney. It was a bare whitewashed two-storey building with 16 windows, measuring inside 54ft by 30ft, with a gallery containing 37 pews, and was so plain that it was said to look more like a barn than a church!
Mr Huey married Miss Mary Ann Steen of Coleraine in 1825, and they had four sons. The name of the eldest is not known; the second son, James, died at Armagh in 1911, aged 82; the third son, Robert, died at Bath Street, Glasgow, in 1868, aged only 37 years (not thirty as stated on the Huey tombstone); and the fourth son, John, was a prosperous merchant who lived at Cloonavin (where the Borough Council used to have their offices until 2001) in Coleraine. John was an elder in New Row and Superintendent of the
Sabbath
School
from 1862 to 1897, but he always returned to Ballywillan to assist in the communion services. When Ballywillan church was rebuily in 1889 John presented a three-light stained glass window in memory of his father and mother, and Mrs Catherine Huey (his second wife) presented communion plates and linen.
The Rev Huey lived at
Lower Islandmore
where he was a tenant of a farm, the area of which is given in the Griffith Valuation (1859) as 39 acres 1 rood and 30 perches. The value of the land was given as £43 15s 0d and the buildings £6. The leasor was James Hannay. He also had land in
East Ballymaclevennon
from Benjamin Ball, the area of this being 25 acres 2 roods 30 perches. This land was valued at £20 and the buildings at 15/-d. Early church records are said to have been destroyed in a fire at Mr Huey’s farm. As well as being a minister and a farmer, he is also said to have had medical ability.
The Ordance Survey Memoirs of 1835 give some general information about the district. There were three main roads running through the parish – one from Coleraine to Portrush, one from Ballymoney to Portrush, and the third from Coleraine to Bushmills. The road from Coleraine to Portrush is described as ‘bad being much destroyed by the constant passage of cars laden with Iron and other heavy merchandise’. The other road to Portrush was also bad, but the road to Bushmills and the numerous crossroads were generally in a good state. The road from Portrush to Portstewart through Ballyreagh had been completed in 1834 at the expense of the county.
In Mr Huey’s time two new congregations were started in the district formerly covered by Ballywillan – Portstewart and Portrush. In May 1824 the Presbytery decided that a ‘chapel of ease be built at Portstewart under the control of Mr Huey, or the clergyman of Ballywillan for the time being and the Presbytery of Route’. In May 1829 the congregation of Portstewart presented a unanimous call to Mr John Stewart, who was ordained on 1st September 1829. In May 1836, a memorial was presented from certain Presbyterians residing at or holding property in Portrush asking for services to be held there ‘ at least during the summer months’. Mr Huey pledged himself to take an evening service there ‘during the bathing season’. In 1841 Portrush became a congregation, and Mr Jonathan Simpson was insstalled there on 27th December 1842. As there was no church, the services were held in the Methodist Chapel, but a new church was completed in September 1844.
Some details of population are available for this period. In 1832 the Presbytery of Route made up a census of the Presbyterian population – Ballywillan congregation consisted of 230 families (1,150 persons). Apparently 163 of the families contributed to the church.
The Coleraine Chronicle published reports of some of the 1859 Revival meetings, which concerned Ballywillan. At the dispensation of the Lord’s Supper in thanksgiving for the revival, reported in the Chronicle on 9th July 1859, there was a congregation present estimated at not less than 1,200 people. A prayer meeting held on a Thursday evening, reported in the Chronicle on 16th July 1859, packed every available space in the building. It was addressed by young men from Coleraine, and was presided over by Mr Huey. The meeting continued until an early hour on Friday morning. At a subsequent prayer meeting on Tuesday, 19th July 1859, at which 400 people were present, three or four individuals were prostrated in a way common during the revival, and had to be removed from the church.
Mr Huey died on Monday, 20th January1862. The previous day he had officiated at Ballywillan, and had spent the greater part of Monday visiting the sick members of the congregation. He was buried at Ballywillan on 23rd January. The Rev J.A. Canning conducted the services at the grave, at which, according to the Chronicle report, the large assemblage listened with deep earnestness and feeling as he spoke with much warmth and evident affection of the venerable father whose earthly remains were about to be committed to the tomb. Mr Huey was buried at Ballywillan. The Huey tombstone is a large double one built into the east wall of the graveyard and bears the date 1883.
This information compiled from:
The Kirk of Ballywillan since the Scottish Settlement (Julia E Mullin)
The Presbytery of Coleraine (J E Mullin)
Fasti of the Irish Presbyterian Church 1613-1840 (Presbyterian Historical Society,
Belfast
)
Coleraine Chronicle Microfilm Records, Irish Library, County Hall, Coleraine.
Minutes of the Presbytery of Route 1811-1834, (Presbyterian Historical Society,
Belfast
)
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The Rev Matthew Woodburn – 1862-1877
Eighth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Five months after Mr Huey’s death his successor, Mr Matthew Woodburn of Ballintemple, Garvagh, was ordained. On Tuesday, 24th June 1862, a congregation of fully 1000 persons (according to the Chronicle report) assembled at Ballywillan. As it was felt that the church was not large enough to hald all those who wished to attend the ordination service, arrangements were made to hold the service in an adjacent field. Unfortunately June 1862 was a very wet month, and the ordination day was cold and wintry, ‘the foliage on trees and hedgerows, and the verdure of the fields, alone tending to keep up the illusion that it was a summer gale stirred the sea and rustled in the grass’(Chronicle). However a screened platform was provided so that the ministers could conduct the service in comparative comfort.
Mr Woodburn lived at Islandmore after his ordination, and the manse must have been built shortly after, as the births of all the Woodburn children are noted in the Baptismal Register as taking place at the manse.
There were six children:
Annie Barkley, born 8th August 1865
George, born 9th September 1867
Jane, born 6th June 1869
Mary Georgina, born 5th January 1871
James Barkley born 12th March 1872
Elizabeth Brown (Lily) born 10th April 1874
Both of his sons entered the ministry, George Woodburn was Professor of Logic and Philosophy and later President of Magee College, and Dr James Barkley Woodburn was minister of Castlerock and later Fitzroy Avenue, Belfast, and was the author of ‘The Ulster Scot’. In July 1897 Annie, the eldest daughter, married William Johnson of
Belfast
, apparently the other Woodburn girls did not marry. Janie lived at Annadale, Newtownbreda, where her mother’s brother, D.G.Barkley, a former Judge in the Supreme Court, N.W.P. India, lived. She and her sister Lily later lived at
Greenock
, where they both died.
During 1876 the Rev Woodburn became ill, and was no longer able to continue his work at Ballywillan. Sadly, his younger brother, James, who also intended to enter the ministry, died in January of that year while still a licentiate of Coleraine Presbytery, aged only 26 years.
At a meeting of the Coleraine Presbytery on 10th February 1877 ‘several members expressed sincere sorrow upon hearing that Mr Woodburn’s recovery was so slow, and the Rev J Simpson, at the request of the Presbytery, engaged in solemn and affecting prayer on his behalf’. A few months later Mr Woodburn wrote the following letter to the congregation:
A Voice from the
Border
Land
Dear Friends,
It is now almost a year since God in His Providence laid me aside from my work amongst you, and called me to bear the burden of affliction. It is fitting, at the close of this year of sorrow both to you and me, that as I am still unable to speak to you by word of mouth, I should ask your kind indulgence to allow me a few words by letter. I am sorry to say that my illness still continues, and that no permanent improvement in my health has taken place. I had fondly hoped that this summer would have restored me, but this hope seems mow fated to be disappointed. At the same time I have much cause to be thankful that my suffering has not been greater, and that there is still reasonable hope that time and care may, with God’s blessing, restore me so that I can again resume work, and be privileged to live and labour for my Master in the ministry of the Gospel. That God may be pleased to grant this is my earnest prayer, in submission to His will, as I know it is yours also.
Allow me to say how much I have been gratified by your whole conduct towards me during the past year. It has been an inexpressible consolation to me to be the subject of your manifold prayers. It has greatly relieved my sorrow to receive from you such repeated expressions of your sympathy. It has helped me to bear with patience my long affliction that you have shown me such forbearance and kindness. When oppressed with sorrow, and depressed in spirit, my heart has been cheered and relieved with the thought that you felt for me such affection; and interested yourselves so deeply in my welfare. This affliction is not joyous, but grievous, yet I could thank God for it, even if it had no other result than letting me see the depth and strength of your love. I thank you all for having me so much in your thoughts, and upon your hearts.
One of my greatest sorrows has been that I was unable to attend upon the sick and dying. Many of my esteemed friends have been in the furnace, and I felt sad that I could not be near to pour a drop of comfort into their hearts. Many of my loved ones have gone away, and I have mourned that I could not speak a word of promise to the dying ear, or help to lift up the departing soul in living faith to God. I sorrow greatly that I shall see their faces no more. But whilst I can only give the suffering and bereaved my sympathy and prayers, He who is the God of all grace and comfort can enter fully into our trials. He can say to the troubled and fearful soul, “Peace be still”. “Fear not I am with thee”. I trust and pray that God may so reveal Himself to every tried one as to turn their sorrow into joy, and to give them the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
Although I have been prevented from preaching the Gospel, yet I am glad that my place has been efficiently filled by others. I trust a rich blessing may follow their labours. I desire “fruit that may abound to your account,” and have no greater pleasure than seeing “my children walking in the truth.” There is nothing I desire more earnestly than your salvation. What greater blessing can I wish you than the blessing of eternal life. Let me urge you to lay hold on this.
Brethren, the time is short, and the matter at stake is inconceivably precious. What is aught else compared with the salvation of the soul? What matters it what we have, or enjoy, if we have not an interest in Christ, and do not enjoy God forever? What can fit us for the duties and toils of life; what can support and comfort us in affliction; what can brighten our dying hour; what can open to us the gates of glory but a saving interest in Christ. Suffer me then to exhort you – it may be for the last time – to take Christ as your Saviour, and put all your dependence on His righteousness, and, as His people, to walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, that so an abundant entrance may be administered unto you into the everlasting Kingdom of God. I trust that, even if my work be done, I shall not have spent my strength for nought, or laboured in vain; but that I shall have the great joy of meeting you all at the right hand of the King when He cometh in His Kingdom. What the future may bring to me – whether sickness or health, life or death – we cannot know. God has hidden it from us. But we know whatever it be it shall be both wise and good. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. Pray for me, that I may be restored to health, and to work among you, if God will; but if not – if the present shadow should deepen until it shuts out the light of my life – that God may lift up upon me the light of His countenance, and that I may be prepared, by His grace and power, to triumph over death, and enter into the joy of my Lord.
I am, dear Friends,
Your loving Pastor,
Mathew Woodburn Maghera, August 1877
On 28th November 1877, Mr Woodburn died at the manse, aged only 36. An obituary in ‘The Witness’ mentions that he died of consumption. It goes on to say that Mr Woodburn was a fine scholar, whose people ever found in him not only an able expositor of the Word of Truth, but a kind and attentive friend.
Mr Woodburn had wished to be buried in the grounds of his own church, but as the lease of the church lands prohibits burial there, he was buried in Ballywillan old graveyard. The funeral service was attended by a very large number of friends and neighbours, in spite of the bleak and biting November day. (Chronicle 8th Dec 1877). Rev J Simpson and Rev Professor Witherow conducted the service at the grave.
After her husband’s death, Mrs Woodburn and her children went to live with her brother in Maghera. Mrs Woodburn died in 1885.
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The Rev Hugh Richardson Wells – 1879-1929
Ninth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
After Mr Woodburn’s death the congregation had difficulty in agreeing upon a successor. It took almost two years before a unanimous call was given to Mr Hugh R. Wells of
Belfast
, who was ordained on 6th August 1879
(1. The Kirk of Ballywillan since the Scottish Settlement J E Mullan
Belfast
1961)
Mr Wells is first mentioned in the minutes of the Coleraine Presbytery on 16th June 1879, where it was recorded that Mr Wells be transferred to the care of the Presbytery of Coleraine from Belfast Presbytery, and that he be appointed constant supplier of the congregation of Ballywillan.
(2. Coleraine Presbytery Minutes, 6th August 1879: Church House Archives,
Belfast
).
Mr Wells, a native of
Belfast
, was brought up in connection with
Crumlin Road
congregation. Later in life than most licentiates, he decided to enter the ministry. He took his Arts course in the Queen’s College,
Belfast
, and graduated in 1878 in the Queen’s
University
of
Ireland
. He studied Theology in the
Presbyterian
College
,
Belfast
, and was licensed by the Belfast Presbytery on 6th May 1879.
(3. Obituaries, The Witness – 5th May 1933, and Missionary Herald.
It is interesting to note that the Rev Wells was born in Carnmoney in August 1846 and the minister of Carnmoney Presbyterian Church from 1845 – 1880 was Rev Joseph Barkley, uncle of Rev Woodburn’s wife. Perhaps the Rev Barkley may in some way have brought Mr Wells to the attention of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church. In 1862 during the Rev Barkley’s ministry, the old cruciform church building at Carnmoney, dating back to 1714 was rebuilt on more commodious lines and on a square pattern. This also may have influenced Mr Wells to rebuild Ballywillan church.
(4. A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in
Ireland
1610 – 1982; Presbyterian Historical Society of
Ireland
, 1962
In a speech on the day of his ordination Mr Wells said:
“The day to which I have looked forward, and for which I have anxiously longed, has now fully come, and I rejoice in its blessed light…. By a series of circumstances, not under man’s control, I am today placed in the office of the holy ministry, and have thus realised my fondest hopes and most earnest expectations. Nothing could give me greater joy, save success in the work in which I am to be engages, than my present position. Though they are weighty, I rejoice over my present obligations. I am not a mere functionary; I have chosen the ministry as the work in which I believe I can best serve and glorify God, and as that to which I feel myself specially called. I thank God for the call and for the ecclesiastical recognition which, in His good providence, I have today received. I feel the more thankful that I am received by the Church which, above all others I love, and in which, I believe, I can do my duty to God…. The harmony of the congregation encourages me…. I thank them for their unanimity in choosing me, and for their enthusiasm in receiving me. The way I have been chosen and received, warrants me to believe that I am truly called to the work of the ministry among them and encourages me to entertain the greater hopes of success. We shall, I hope, minister and people, be able as one man to do the work given us at peace among ourselves. We shall, as much as lieth in us, live at peace with our neighbours, having for our motto, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men’.
Replying on behalf of the congregation, Mr Glenn said, “I believe we have got the right man, and shall never have any reason to regret our choice, which, I am happy to say, was unanimous. I hope Mr Wells may be long spared to our church, and feel happy in his work, and that the longer we are acquainted, we shall love and respect each other more. I represent the people, and he has a hearty welcome amongst us….”
(5. Constitution, 9th August 1879).
Information from older members of the congregation has helped to give a picture of the Rev and Mrs Wells. Mr Wells is described as having been a gentleman, very tall and good-looking, with a beard and moustache and a ‘terrific head of hair’. In the pulpit when delivering his sermons – which were long but well thought out – he used to wipe his moustache with a large white handkerchief with exaggerated deliberate movements, and was even known to have combed his hair whilst in the pulpit. One past member of the congregation said that Rev Wells reminded her of what Jesus must have looked like, with the beard and the long face. He wore a long black raincoat, similar to the type of dark raincoat the Police used to wear. He was very proud f this coat and used to relate how long he had had it. The fact that the coat was turning green with age suggests he must have had it for some time.
Not a humorous man, he was very prosaic and long-winded. He never used a word of four letters if he could find one of five or six syllables. At Sunday School examinations he would put his questions in such a way that the children did not know exactly what he was asking. Church, for children during the Rev Wells’ ministry, must have been boring as he preached high above their heads. A number of the younger boys were known to have made a nine-hole golf course in a field nearby, and instead of attending church they played golf.
During his ministry there were no organisations for the congregation. Morning Service started at twelve o’clock and the Evening Service was held in the moonlight once a month. There were no streetlights at that time for people going home.
On meeting a member of his congregation, Mr Wells loved to shake their hand and hold it for a long time. Once he remarked to Miss Elizabeth Kane of the
Ballywillan Road
, ‘I am glad to see you haven’t got one of these new-fashioned bicycles! It is ironic that Mr Wells should have passed the remark to Miss Kane, considering the number of miles she later travelled by bicycle, covering the whole of
Ireland
.
Mr Wells loved to walk and it was his custom to take a walk every morning, returning to the manse in time for lunch. Whilst he was out walking, it was not unusual to see him stoop, pick dandelions and suck the sap from them. In the month of April, at the first sign of Spring, he would extract his straw hat from hibernation and could often be seen striding through the fields in his hat, and carrying his blackthorn stick. He attributed his good health to these walks and a spoonful of cod-liver oil, which he took after each meal. He also recommended porridge and buttermilk. Eggshells were saved and powdered down for his coffee. Mr Wells practised his sermons in a nearby field, which had one solitary hawthorn bush in the centre. At this time it was common land but now belongs to a local farmer.
When he called with his parishioners, the children had to have their verses of Scripture ready for recitation and answer questions on the Catechism. He always arranged to call at meal times when the family was in. The children, who hardly dared look sideways at him, knelt down in a row. The mother placed a cushion on the floor and a chair beside it. The Rev Wells knelt down, prayed, and when he arose, patted each child on the head before leaving.
On 2nd June 1897 Mr Wells was married to Jessie Andrew McMicking, daughter of Thomas McMicking, JP, of Burnbrae, Helensburgh. Mr Wells was 51 when he married, and his bride was 33.
Mrs Wells, who wore glasses, is described as being very kind and thoughtful, but ‘futtery’, with a pleasant Scottish accent. She was a small, plump woman, very bad on her feet, with ankles that were puffed up and came out over her shoes. She presided over the senior girls in the Sunday school and at Christmas parties held in the manse for her class. Always willing to try something new, when badminton started, although she had never played before, she went on to the court to hit the shuttle over the net. Once when the Alexanders of Crossreagh were practising hitting matchboxes on a wall with their air-gun, she had to have a go and succeeded with the first shot in knocking a matchbox off the wall.
We have in our possession Mrs Wells’ Bible, presented to her by her Sunday School class on the occasion of her leaving Helensburgh on 12th November 1896. From this Bible and notes made by Mrs Wells, it is obvious that Mrs Wells made out the Scripture headings, and that Mr Wells based his sermons on these readings. Mrs Wells took an active interest in her husband’s ministry. She took great delight in calling with members of the congregation and indeed in helping Rev Wells in any way she could.
After his marriage, the congregation presented Rev and Mrs Wells with a driving horse, harness, hooded carriage etc, which was driven by their coachman, John Rankin. It must have presented a striking picture with Mrs Wells sitting upright like a queen in the carriage and John Rankin in the tall hat, which he wore. In those days, members of the congregation who could afford to do so came to church by pony or horse and trap, and during the service the animals were kept in the stables, which still exist at the rear of the church, where they were fed oats.
When Mr Wells was 70 and Mrs Wells 52, they adopted a five-year-old girl from
Edinburgh
. We cannot be sure of the child’s background. Some people think she lived in an orphanage, whilst others said she was related to Mrs Wells, as her name was Elizabeth Cameron McMicking and she called the Wells’ Uncle Hugh and Aunt Jessie. Betty had long brown hair down to her waist and attended the
Ladies
High School
in Coleraine, travelling there by bicycle. Later she was educated at a boarding school in
Sligo
. She was a very lively girl who found it hard to sit still. She was clever and musical, and occasionally played the organ (not the pipe organ) on a Sunday evening in church.
Mr and Mrs Wells resided at the old manse on the
Magherabouy Road
, and their door was always open to visitors. They had two Dalmation dogs, called Punch and Judy. The garden was a picture, with colourful flowers, and the privet hedge was always squared and neatly cut. On good days, ladies of the congregation would play croquet on the lawn, and the children would play tennis with Betty Wells.
Mr Wells died on 27th April 1933 in his 86th year. His funeral was on the first day of the Route Hunt Races and it was a case of divided loyalties, whether to go to the races or the funeral.
(6. From notes made by Mrs Sandra Johnston of conversations with members of the congregation).
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The Rev James Morrow – March 1930 – November 1931
Tenth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr Morrow was minister at Ballywillan Presbyterian Church for only 20 months. He was born at Limavady in 1893, the youngest son of Mr Henry Morrow of Ballynahery, Limavady. An able student, he won many prizes and distinctions during his academic courses at
Magee
College
, Derry, and
Trinity
College
,
Dublin
. He obtained his M.A. and L.G.S.M., the latter in elocution.
Rev Morrow was licensed by the Presbytery of Limavady in 1919 and ordained in 1921 in Sloane Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn, where he ministered for the next eight years.
On 3rd October 1923 at 1st Presbyterian Church, Moneymore, the Rev Morrow married Elinor Hester (known as Birbie), youngest daughter of Dr William McIvor of Moneymore. Dr McIvor had been a coroner of
South Derry
for a number of years.
In 1930 Rev Morrow accepted a call to Ballywillan Presbyterian Church and was installed on 6th March 1930. The Chronicle report on 8th March 1930 mentions that the service was conducted by Rev T Dowey, Moderator of the Coleraine Presbytery, while the sermon was delivered by the Rev George McDowell, the new minister of 2nd Kilrea & Boveedy. The Rule of Faith was read by the Clerk of Presbytery, Rev D.H. Dewar, Ballywatt and the installation prayers offered by Rev W. Brown, Limavady and Rev R. Anderson of Richview,
Belfast
. The charge to minister and people was given by Rev J.S. Pyper, Portrush. Subsequently the ladies of the congregation entertained the visiting clergy and friends, numbering over 100, to lunch on the Arcadia Café, Portrush. In his speech Mr Morrow thanked the members of the Congregation for the trust they had reposed in him and hoped they would never have cause to regret it. His great aim would be what it had always been, to present to the people Jesus Christ, not as a vague personality, nor as the Jesus of history merely, but as a living Saviour.
Mr Morrow said that in coming to Ballywillan, he knew he was coming to a Church hallowed by the most sacred associations. A Church that for almost three centuries had as ministers, some of the ablest and holiest men of God the Church had produced, none of whom was more esteemed than his immediate predecessor, Mr H. Wells, whom he was glad to see with him that day.
The Chronicle reports finishes by saying that later in the evening Mr & Mrs Morrow were welcomed at a Congregational social meeting. An enjoyable programme was contributed and during the course of the evening Mrs Wells and Miss K. Smyth, on behalf of the congregation, presented Mr Morrow with a beautiful pulpit gown.
When the Morrows came to Ballywillan first, the manse was lit by oil lamps, and they had no running water. They had two children when they arrived, Harry, the eldest, later a dentist in
Belfast
, and Joy, only four when she lived here, who later married a chemist in Newry. Noel, born a few weeks after the Morrows left Ballywillan, became a nurse in the
Royal
Victoria
Hospital
and later married William Cowie, an engineer. The youngest child, Enid, also trained as a nurse in the
Royal
Victoria
Hospital
and later married an accountant in
Dublin
.
Mr Morrow is described by members of the congregation as being a small man who could often be seen hurrying along with his coat tails flying. He had no car but as he did possess a bicycle he cycled he cycled daily, winter and summer to the harbour for a daily swim.
Mrs Morrow is described as a very nice person with fair hair, whose health unfortunately was not at all good while at Ballywillan. When her doctor advised a change, and Rev Morrow was offered Warrenpoint, he felt that for her sake he should make the move. At a meeting of the Kirk Session on 27th October 1931 a vote of sympathy was passed to Mrs Morrow in her very serious illness and the hope expressed that she would soon be restored again to full health.
Mention is made in the Kirk Session minutes of a special meeting of the Congregation called by Mr Morrow on 24th May 1931 after the close of service. He explained why he thought it desirable to change the time of the Morning Service during the months of July and August from 12 noon to 11.30 a.m. Mr Morrow felt that the earlier time would enable visitors to Portrush to join in the services at Ballywillan. After a full and frank discussion in which any member who chose could take part. Those opposed to any change were asked to stand up. Nine stood up and subsequently when the objectors reasons were found to be very trivial, it was unanimously agreed to commence the service at 11.30 a.m. for the months of July and August.
Mr Morrow resigned from Ballywillan on 30th November 1931, having preached his last sermon on 22nd November 1931. He was installed in Warrenpoint on 2nd December 1931 where he continued to swim daily. He and his family were highly regarded by the congregation at Warrenpoint. The ‘History of Congregations’ says that “he never gave anything in the worship in God’s house which was not costly to himself”. His daughter Joy knows of two clergymen who have told her that it was at one of his services that they decided to study for the church.
Due to ill health, the Rev Morrow retired as senior minister at Warrenpoint on 31st March 1959 and went to live in
Bangor
. On 22nd October 1963 in the 71st year of his life and the 43rd year of his ministry, the Rev James Morrow passed away.
This information was compiled from:
Ballywillan
Church
Kirk Session Minute Book
Coleraine Chronicle & Constitution archives, Irish Library, County Hall, Coleraine.
Notes by Mrs S. Johnston on conversations with older members of the Congregation.
‘History of Congregations’, Presbyterian Historical Society.
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The Rev William Holmes Hutchinson M.C. B.A. – 1932 – 1953
Eleventh Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Born in
Dublin
in 1882, Mr Hutchinson received his early education there. Moving to
Belfast
he had a business career for some years in the firm of Gregg and
Phoenix
. Having experienced the Divine Call to the Ministry, he entered Queen’s College,
Belfast
where he graduated with a B.A. in 1904. He took his divinity course at Assembly’s College,
Belfast
. Mr Hutchinson was licensed by the Belfast Presbytery on 26th May 1908 and was for some time assistant to Rev Dr Charles Davy in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church.
In 1910, he was ordained as minister of
Cunningham
Memorial
Church
, Cullybackey, and in 1932 he accepted a call to Ballywillan. Mr Hutchinson was Moderator of the Synod of Ballymena and Coleraine in 1914.
In 1915, at the beginning of the First World War, Mr Hutchinson enlisted as a private and served as a dispatch rider with the First Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. In 1917 he received his commission as a chaplain and in that capacity continued his work in the same battalion. During his service he was gassed and wounded. In 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross. The official citation records his devoted service to the wounded.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr Hutchinson returned to Cullybackey, where he completed a ministry of 22 years, before accepting a call to Ballywillan.
The Presbytery of Coleraine installed Mr Hutchinson on 26th May 1932. During his speech at the installation lunch, as reported in the Chronicle, Mr Hutchinson said that Cullybackey was one of the best of churches and he had been as happy there as a man could be. He had had no desire to change but had been impelled by the fear that his health now was not such as would enable him in the future to minister satisfactorily to the large congregation of 350 families. He thanked Ballywillan for their kindness to him and their willingness to receive him, and said that he could only promise to do his very best. He hoped that he would never be a burden to Ballywillan. “I hope you will like me”, he concluded, “that is perhaps the best I can say – the best I can give and the best I can do will be yours”.
A Memorial Tribute published in the Chronicle in 1953 gives a picture of Mr Hutchinson and his ministry at Ballywillan. In appearance he had what is known as a military bearing – upright figure, squared shoulders, head held erect, resolute step and swinging walk, but this was not something acquired in his army career. His contemporaries remember him thus in his student years. This bearing gave embodiment, as it were, to the thought of the Church Militant, engaged in a spiritual warfare.
The Memorial Tribute goes on to say that Mr Hutchinson had a manner of his own, which might be described as a ‘grand manner’. It was apparent in his diction, and there was a courtliness about him, something of a ministerial dignity, that seemed in him to find a perpetuation from a bygone time. On taking leave he would say, perhaps, ‘May the blessing of God attend you upon your way’. When addressing the Presbytery he was always careful to call it ‘this
Reverend Court
’. In Mr Hutchinson this manner of speaking came forth as the sincere expression of a native dignity that was his.
Under his leadership, a fine church hall was erected in 1934. He had a dominant enthusiasm for the world enterprise of the Church. For many years he was the Presbytery’s agent for the Foreign Mission, and he was also a member of the Assembly’s Mission Board. Through his keen interest in this work, his own congregation became infused with a strong missionary enthusiasm, and by his example in generous giving, he provoked the zeal of many in this sphere of the Church’s work.
Foreign fields were not his only interest. The social and spiritual tasks of the Church at home were given his keen advocacy and service. It was his firm conviction that the work of evangelism among our people should be conducted not by those from inside, but by those appointed thereto within our own communion. He was not one of those who considered the shorter catechism outmoded. He cited it, and commended the use of it, and contributed a commentary to it in the Church’s magazine ‘Daybreak’.
Information from older members of the congregation adds to this picture of Mr Hutchinson. He was described as being an effervescent gentleman of medium build and height, who loved music and who had a certain twinkle in his smile.
In April 1957 the Presbyterian Herald mentions that the portrait of the late Mr Hutchinson which now hangs in the Octagon was unveiled at Ballywillan. The portrait was the work of Mr Frank McKelvey R.A. and members of the congregation have commented that the twinkle in his smile has been captured here.
He had a good voice, and loved to quote poetry in the pulpit. His sermons were long, and could go on for ¾ of an hour. He was a very popular person, and travelled his parish on a bicycle for many years. One member of the congregation commented that the Rev Hutchinson’s bicycle didn’t have a bell, but he would warn pedestrians of his approach by shouting ‘Cuckoo, cuckoo’ and wave his arms. Before his marriage, he would call on his parishioners at the oddest times, often when they had retired to bed.
On the 20th July 1938 Rev Hutchinson married Dr Isobel Alexander, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Robert Alexander, of Crossreagh House, Portrush. Dr Alexander had been an elder of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church for some years, and is described as having been a very witty person with beautiful red hair. Dr Alexander was Schools Medical Officer for
North Antrim
at the time of her marriage. As an active member of the congregation, Mrs Hutchinson was able to assist her husband greatly, and they were a very popular couple. Mrs Hutchinson set an enthusiastic example in all church activities, especially in the work of the Women’s Missionary Association, of which she was president for many years. Much of her time was spent visiting the sick. She took an active interest in the work of the joiner organisations, including the Girls’ Auxiliary, and they benefited from her leadership and advice.
On Sunday mornings, the Rev Hutchinson would walk up to the Sunday School, wearing a frock coat and top hat. Mrs Hutchinson would drive up later in the car. In Sunday School the Rev Hutchinson loved to sing the childrens’ chorus, starting before the piano, stamping his feet and singing away.
During the Second World War when servicemen came home on leave, the Rev and Mrs Hutchinson invited them to the manse for supper. Having served during the First World War, Rev Hutchinson would have been aware of the many problems which men had to face.
During his latter years, Mr Hutchinson suffered periods of illness, severe enough to have justified retirement from the active duties of the ministry, but he continued in his service to the Church at Ballywillan to the very end. In the month of May 1953 both he and his devoted wife were seriously ill in hospital. Both recovered enough to return to the manse, and immediately Mr Hutchinson resumed his duties. On Sunday 23rd August 1953, he had officiated at three services, and died on 24th August, in the 72nd year of his age, and the 44th year of his ministry. Mrs Hutchinson died four years later, on 26th July 1957, after a prolonged illness. Both Mr and Mrs Hutchinson were buried at Islandmagee.
This information compiled from:
Coleraine Chronicle and Constitution archive, Irish Library, County Hall, Coleraine.
Library of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House,
Belfast
Ballywillan Kirk Session Minute Book.
Notes by Mrs S. Johnston on conversations with members of the congregation.
History of Congregations, - Presbyterian Historical Society.
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The Rev William Cowper Lynas B.A. – 1954 – 1961
Twelfth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
Mr Lynas was ordained and installed minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church on Thursday 28th January 1954. His wife Betty is a graduate of Queen’s University,
Belfast
, and daughter of Rev and Mrs Samuel Stevenson of Glastry Manse, Kircubbin, Co.Down.
In 1961 Mr Lynas resigned from Ballywillan and was installed in Dunmurry on 13th April 1961.
Mr Lynas, who comes from
Belfast
, was a brother of Rev R V Lynas who was minister of Gardenmore Presbyterian Church, Larne.
The Chronicle report of Mr Lynas’ installation reports that the new minister was a well-known athlete who had played for Collegians Rugby 1st XV and ran for the junior and senior track teams of
Methodist
College
. A distinguished language student, he was the Dickey Hebrew Prizeman at
Magee
College
, Derry, which he entered from
Methodist
College
,
Belfast
. He obtained a BA degree at
Trinity
College
,
Dublin
, and in 1952 finished his theological course at the
Presbyterian
College
,
Belfast
, where he was first in elocution.
During his final year at
Magee
College
, Mr Lynas was assistant to Rev W I Steele, BA BD, minister of First Derry Presbyterian Church. Later in his student days, he became assistant to Rev David Dowling, MA DD, minister of
McCracken
Memorial
Church
, Upper Malone,
Belfast
. Before Mr Lynas began studying for the ministry he had been a banker.
Mr and Mrs Lynas’s children, Gillian and Michael, were both born at Ballywillan.
The Chronicle reports that during his speech at the ordination luncheon, Mr Lynas said that during his time of assistantship, he had become more and more conscious of the importance of work amongst the young people and the children. He believed that when a child had learned the habit of church going, and was interested in the work of the church, those habits would remain in adult life. Many happy memories would keep the link between the child and the church.
Mr Lynas soon put these ideas into practise. On 29th September 1954 it was noted in the Kirk Session Minutes that: Mr Lynas hoped to commence a Girls Brigade, a life boys troop and a social club for the younger people of the congregation and a Boys Brigade Company. The Session expressed their approval and hoped that the new organisations would be successful. The Girls Brigade was formed in October 1954, and the Boys Brigade in November 1954.
During Mr Lynas’ ministry many improvements were carried out to the church building. In 1958/1959 eight new windows were constructed in the nave, the complete inside walls of the building were renovated, and a new oil-fired heating system was installed. Re-surfacing of all the pathways surrounding the church were also carried out. The church was, of course, closed while these improvements took place.
When the church was opened again in May 1959 the Alexander family presented a new organ to the church. It was dedicated to the memory of Rev W H Hutchinson, minister from 1932 until 1953 and his wife formerly Dr Isobel Alexander.
Mr and Mrs Lynas had been welcome visitors to Ballywillan many times sine they had moved to Dunmurry in 1961. In September 1970 Mr Lynas opened and dedicated the renovated and enlarged church hall. He spoke of his pleasure at meeting so many old friends that night.
In March and April 1979 Mr Lynas was the guest speaker at the Silver Jubilee of both the Girls Brigade and the Boys Brigade. In his sermon at the Girls Brigade Thanksgiving Service, Mr Lynas recalled that when the GB had been formed in 1954, it was the only company within the north coast area, and remained so for a number of years. He spoke of the dedication of the officers, and the influence for good that the GB had had on its members and, most important, the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom amongst girls.
In his BB Jubilee speech Mr Lynas spoke of the early days of the Boys Brigade at Ballywillan, and paid particular tribute to the enthusiasm of Mr Hal Stewart in the establishment of the Company.
Miss A. Taylor’s Newspaper Cuttings Scrapbook.
‘The Witness’, Presbyterian Historical Society Library,
Belfast
.
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The Rev James Frazer BSc BD – 1961 – 2000
Thirteenth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
In April 1961 the Rev Lynas resigned, having received a call to the congregation of Dunmurry. In June of that year a call was made out to James Frazer, BSc.BD, who was then Assistant Minister to the Rev John T Carson of Trinity Presbyterian Church in
Bangor
.
The Rev Frazer’s parents, William and Evelyn lived near Whiteabbey. His father was a plumber in Harland and Wolff’s shipyard. He worked on the Titanic, and was on its Trials on Belfast Lough before it headed for
Southampton
and its tragic maiden voyage. The family worshipped in Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church, but on the formation of Abbotscross Presbyterian as a Church Extension, he was appointed as organist at the age of 16 in 1949.
Rev Frazer studied at
Grosvenor
High School
in
Belfast
, gaining a scholarship to study Civil Engineering at
Queens
University
. Shortly after his father’s death in 1952 he experienced a call to ministry in the church, and after completing his degree in engineering, began his theological studies in Assembly’s College in 1955.
After one year there in 1955-56, he obtained a scholarship for one year to Princeton Theological Seminary in
New Jersey
in the
United States
. At the end of this year, the scholarship was extended for another 2 years to allow him to complete his studies for his B.D.
While there he was assistant to the Rev Dr Donald Gard in First Trenton Presbyterian Church in
New Jersey
, and in his final year he was assistant to the Rev Andrew McElwee in Rockaway Presbyterian Church, N.J.
After his graduation from Princeton, he returned home and was invited to be assistant to the Rev John T Carson in
Trinity
Church
in
Bangor
, where he served for two years until his call to Ballywillan Presbyterian Church in 1961.
On the 18th of June, with the permission of Church House, Mr Frazer married Miss Maureen Beattie. She lived in Lurgan, and was a member of First Lurgan Presbyterian Church. She had obtained a B.Sc. in Physics at
Queens
University
in 1970, and subsequently taught in
Dalriada
School
in Ballymoney. Over the years they laboured in ministry together, and many of the initiatives they introduced developed through their shared thinking.
The Frazers have a family of four children. The eldest, James Patrick, later obtained his degree in Civil Engineering in
Dundee
. Evanne Claire studied Art in
Manchester
, and after graduating in
Manchester
, spent a gap year in
Nepal
and
Malawi
. Their second daughter, Janice Elizabeth completed a degree in Primary Teaching in
Lancaster
. Jonathan William, the youngest, graduated in Civil Engineering in
Heriot
Watt
University
,
Edinburgh
.
Over the years of Mr Frazer’s ministry, the congregation grew in numbers from 180 to 450 families. Two Sunday morning services of modern and traditional worship were introduced. During this period also, extensive renovations were undertaken in the church.
The following work was instigated:
Minor Hall
New stage
Renovations of the sanctuary with gallery and new pipe organ installed
Litch Gate
The link, new kitchen, children’s room, office accommodation
The octagon
New access provided from the main
Coleraine Road
Additional parking space
Over this period, under the auspices of the organist Mr Adrian Anderson from Portstewart, a series of Summer Recitals of Church Music were instigated, with guest soloists, instrumentalists, and choirs from Ireland, England, and overseas. These were very popular and well attended, and continued for over 25 years, until 2001.
In 1973, the congregation requested, and gained permission from the Presbyterian General Assembly, to allow Mr Frazer to move from the manse on
Magherabouy Road
, to his own home on the
Gateside Road
. Over a number of years he had worked on building this house for retirement, doing all the woodwork, electrics, and plumbing himself. At this time the old manse was sold, the money invested, and on the minister’s retirement would enable the church to purchase a new manse at
3 Magheraboy Drive
.
In 1979, Mr Frazer requested, and was granted a six-month sabbatical. He and his wife and children travelled to Lawrenceville, near
Princeton
,
New Jersey
, where he had studied. The Seminary there allowed him also free access to use any facilities any of their facilities to further his studies, and arranged an exchange with the Rev Floyd Fletcher from nearby Slackwood Presbyterian Church. Floyd, along with his wife Jan, and their two daughters, Mary and Adrienne, came to Ballywillan and ministered very acceptably for the ensuing 6 months. It was during this period of sabbatical study at
Princeton
that fresh thinking about ministry was undertaken, and they returned with a number of ideas, and with session support, several changes were successively introduced to the life of the church. It was from this point on that a renewed vitality was evident in the congregation.
Also during this period, the congregation were regularly invited to broadcast the worship on BBC Radio
Ulster
, also nationwide on Radio 4 and the World Service. Later UTV broadcast their last outside Sunday morning TV Worship Service from Ballywillan, in 1992. Later, RTE invited minister and choir to broadcast the Sunday TV Morning Service on RTE. After retiring, a number of Sunday morning services and “Thought for the Day” have been broadcast on Radio
Ulster
from the studio in
Belfast
.
On the retirement of the Rev Frazer in 2000, the congregation held a Service of Thanksgiving for his ministry in the Diamond at the University at Coleraine. This was filled to capacity, and after a programme telling the story of his life, a cheque was presented to him on acknowledgement of his ministry among them of 39 years.
Degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa)
awarded by
Union
Theological
College
The following year,
Union
Theological
College
, in
Belfast
, awarded him the honorary degree of D.D. with the citation:
Citation for the Degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) 18th May 2001 by WPA.
Ballywillan, like many Presbyterian churches in Ireland, is situated in a field; a field overlooking Portrush, and the
North Atlantic
. To this congregation came our graduand to be ordained to the Christian ministry in September 1961. At that time, in the Presbytery of Coleraine, Ballywillan was, in terms of families, the 10th biggest congregation, and in terms of financial giving, the 6th biggest. Today it finds itself in first position on both counts. To cope with a growth from 168 to 460+ families the church has added a gallery to the worship area, and now has two morning services throughout the year. In the summer, because of the influx of visitors, one of the morning services requires video-linked overflow facilities in three other parts of the complex, while the other morning service needs only overflow room!
In the last 40 years the North Antrim Coast in general and the Coleraine triangle area in particular has experienced remarkable population growth. This has been due mainly to the development of the
University
of
Ulster Campus
and to the increase in the number of second homes and holiday caravans in the area.
During this time some churches have grown but few if any to the same degree as Ballywillan. Clearly its pastor for the past 40 years is remarkable man. And we honour him this evening.
But what has been his secret? What wonderful gifts did he bring to his task?
Jim Frazer is a quiet, almost shy man, somewhat embarrassed by his success, and certainly not out of the 'do what I do and success is guaranteed' school of church leadership.
He took a degree in civil engineering at Queen's, before studying theology for one year at Assembly's College and then for three years at
Princeton
. In 1970 he had the good sense to marry Maureen, a 1st Lurgan girl.
I have known him since I went to my first charge in Coleraine in 1968. I think of him as a builder.
A Builder of Cars
In his early days he had a passion for MGBs. I say 'MGBs' in the plural because often more than one of these low slung, two-seater beauties was to be found around the manse, one of them usually being in assorted bits. I confess that I sometimes fantasized on how, if I could get the use of one, it would greatly improve my romantic prospects. Unfortunately it was but a dream!
A Builder of a House
He decided to buy a plot and build a house by direct labour. At first his plans were turned down but he showed his doggedness by taking an amended plan personally around the members of the planning committee and gained approval. He was a full time minister, so he devoted the two hours between 7 and 9 in the morning to supervising the work before he turned to his normal duties.
A Builder of Bridges
He was concerned to reach those outside the church and he began a series of Summer Recitals. These were monthly musical events held after the Sunday evening service and open to all. Assorted singers and instrumentalists were invited, and the style was a kind of sanctified Classic FM with a little bit of Radio 2. Initially some eyebrows were raised. Presbyterians, by breeding and teaching, are not meant to enjoy anything on a Sabbath evening, despite the answer to the first question of the Shorter Catechism. And was secular music being performed at these evenings? At this point the confusion became greater because how can you tell if the music is secular if it is being sung in Italian? But the message was loud and plain. Here was a church open, welcoming to all, ready to go to the community at large with a warm open and evangelical message.
A Builder of the Church
In 1979 he was granted a six-month sabbatical in
Princeton
. He had access to all classes and the whole continuing education programme of the Seminary. This experience proved invaluable and resulted in a reappraisal by the session of all congregational life and ministry. Today Sunday worship is in a 'seeker friendly' format with visitors in mind. His 9 minute sermon in the
morning is balanced with a stronger teaching emphasis in the evening service, and a small group teaching ministry through house groups. Small groups have also been used for outreach through an adapted version of Alpha, followed by the Contagious Christian and Network programmes, both from Willow Creek.
This successful ministry is all the more remarkable since, at its start, he faced a major crisis in his domestic life. One which, had he been a lesser man, or had Ballywillan been a lesser congregation, or had the grace of God not been sufficient for all our needs, might have destroyed his ministry before it really got going.
Thanks be to God! That did not happen and Reverend Principal, I have the privilege to present to you, for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa), James Frazer
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Divinity
WP Addley
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The Rev Andrew A Smyth (1994 – 2001)
Associate Minister
In 1994 the Session, after reviewing the life and work of the church, decided to assist the minister with an Associate Minister, under a new scheme just introduced by the General Assembly. Ballywillan was the first congregation outside
Belfast
itself, to seek to appoint an Associate under this scheme, and issued a call to the Rev Andrew Smyth, a student for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in
America
. Mr Smyth had studied in
Gordon
Conwell
College
in
America
and was installed in Ballywillan in 1994. For the next 7 years, he and his wife Tara, and their children Fiona and Duncan, shared in the life and ministry until after Mr Frazer retired in 2000. Andrew Smyth received a call to Dun Laoghaire Congregation in 2001
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The Rev John Woodside BSc BD – 2001 - 2004
Fourteenth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
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Coming soon
The Rev Dr Stephen Williamson
Fifteenth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church
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Coming soon
