A cleric who grew up in south Belfast has been chosen as the next moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
The Reverend Richard Murray, pastor of Drumley Presbyterian Church in Bendora, Co. Antrim, was nominated to preside over the Presbyterian Church’s annual meeting to elect its leaders on Tuesday night.
The 58-year-old will replace current moderator, Reverend Sam Mawhinney, at the church’s general meeting in Belfast in June.
Last year, Dr Mawhinney, who was based at Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church in Dublin, was elected to lead the all-Island denomination as the first pastor of a congregation in the Republic in more than 20 years.
Murray, who was one of six candidates for the role, will become the 179th minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland since it was founded in 1840.
“I am humbled to be called to this position,” he said, adding, “I will strive to represent the Church and the Lord to the best of my ability.” My desire is to be faithful to God’s Word in all things, and my desire is that people remember me in their prayers during my term. ”
Reverend Murray grew up in the Finaghy area of south Belfast and attended Wallace High School in Lisburn and then Queen’s University.
He studied at the Presbyterian Union Theological College in Belfast and later served in churches including Finaghy Row Memorial, Terrace Row in Coleraine and Connor Presbyterian Church in Ballymena.
Since 2016, he has served as pastor of Drumley Presbyterian Church and Dromore Presbyterian Church, which merged last year and now have approximately 850 members.
“I will be away for 12 months from June and will be keenly aware of the loss of weekly fellowship at Drumley,” he said.
“However, I recognize this as a call from God and move forward in faith, believing that the Lord Himself will be my rearguard.”