New minister at Lissara church

New minister at Lissara church

29 January 2020

A NEW chapter in the history of Lissara Presbyterian Church opened last weekend with the installation of the Rev Alan Burke.

A large congregation attended last Friday evening’s service in Crossgar with the new minister looking forward to his time working in the area.

For the past two and a half years, Mr Burke was assistant minister at the Loanends and Killead churches near Aldergrove. In Crossgar, he succeeds the Rev Ian Abraham, who was in charge at Lissara since December 2004.

Mr Burke said he was “delighted” to take up his new ministry and is looking forward to settling into the local community with his wife Allison and three young children. 

Born and bred in the village of Articlave, near Coleraine, the new minister brings with him a wealth of knowledge.

He continued: “I am delighted to finally take up my first ministry at Lissara Presbyterian Church which has been the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort. It feels like I have come home.”

Mr Burke began studying at Belfast’s Union Theology College several years ago, explaining that a minister must spend two years in study and train for a further five before he can be ordained.

Mr Burke, who attended Dunboe First Presbyterian as a child, explained that it wasn’t until he was 15 that he felt the inner sense of call to the faith. 

He added: “When I grew up the church was more for ‘women and wains’ than it was for young people or men in general, but circumstances led me to my faith.

“My hope is that my family and I will be in Crossgar for many years.”