Churches welcome their new minister

Churches welcome their new minister

22 November 2023

THE Rev Rosalind Taggart was installed by the Presbytery of Bangor as minister of the congregations of Ballee Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church and Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church at a service in Ballee on Saturday afternoon.

Rev Taggart becomes the 16th minister of the Clough congregation since it was founded in 1680 and the 10th minister since the erection of its meeting house in 1837.

She also becomes the 16th minister of the Ballee congregation, which was founded in 1655 with Rev Fleming as its first minister.

Rev Taggart is now the minister of the Downpatrick, Ballee and Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian congregations, having been installed at Downpatrick lat year.

The congregations welcomed ministers and elders from the Presbyteries of Antrim, Bangor and Munster along with ministers from outside the denomination to the Service.

Despite the yellow weather warning which had ended earlier that day, many visitors from across the province attended the service.

The service was led by the Rev Stephen Reain-Adair, Moderator of the Presbytery of Bangor, with Rev Brian Moodie, Clerk of the Presbytery of Bangor, putting forward the questions to the minister-elect.

Rev Dr David Steers delivered the Exposition of Presbyterian Church Order and Rev Dr Heather Walker delivered the charge to the minister and congregation. 

ure readings were delivered by Miss Elsie Nelson, Miss Sophia Cleland and Mrs Doreen Chambers. 

The hymns chosen for the service were ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord’, ‘I danced in the morning, and ‘I the Lord of Sea and Sky’ accompanied by Miss Melanie Campbell on the organ.

Rev Taggart, as the preaching elder, presented her Statement of Principles and Objectives in which she emphasised the importance of spreading the word of the gospel.

Rev Taggart was welcomed by Mr Allan Chambers from the Ballee congregation, and Mr David Rooney, an elder in the Clough congregation.

Congratulations were extended by Rev Stephen Reain-Adair, Rev Brian Moodie, Mrs Lena Cockcroft, Moderator of the NSPCI, Rev Chris Hudson, representing the Synod of Munster, Rev Roger McKee, representing the Presbytery of Antrim, and Rev Sabrina Cooke, representing the Church of Ireland.

After the service, everyone was invited to the church hall where refreshments and conversation were enjoyed.