Centenary of the birth of Lord Bannside and 75 years since the founding of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster

A TRIBUTE FROM BARONESS EILEEN PAISLEY

Seventy-five years ago in 1951 my husband was 25 years of age.  On St Patrick’s day of that year, in Crossgar, Co Down he (alongside those of like-mindedness with regards the ongoing controversy in the Presbyterian Church at that time) founded the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.

We married in 1956. As his wife I travelled alongside him on the road which over the years saw his Ministry and that of the denomination flourish.

His beloved Father also was a wonderful influence on the development of the denomination throughout those early years. Together they began the Theological Hall which met in the rooms of our little church.

Ian served as Moderator until his election as First Minister of the province and faithfully pastored his own congregation on the Ravenhill Road for almost 65 years.

It so happens that this year also marks the centenary of Ian’s birth - 6th APRIL,1926.

As his wife and as a family we miss him dearly. It is with happy hearts and much joy that we will celebrate these milestones and look forward to our reunion in Christ.

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Centenary of the Birth of Lord Bannside PC

BORN 6 APRIL 1926 • REBORN 29 MAY 1932 • CALLED HOME 12 SEPTEMBER 2014

IAN RICHARD KYLE PAISLEY was born in Armagh, Co Armagh, the second son of James and Isabella Paisley.

Aged two, the family moved to Ballymena, Co Antrim, and there began his love for that town and County which lasted all his days and translated into public service as its Member of Parliament for over 40 years.

In kind recognition he was made a freeman of both Ballymoney and Ballymena.

In 1946 he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry and always viewed his calling as that which defined his life’s work. For 65 years he faithfully pastored his congregation on the Ravenhill Road, Belfast.

He married ‘the love of his life’ Eileen Emily (nee Cassells) in 1956. They had five children together and worked side by side throughout their lives serving as elected representatives in Northern Ireland and later in the House of Lords.

In addition to his service in the Mother of Parliaments, Westminster, he served five consecutive terms, 25 years, as a Member of the European Parliament. His unbroken and never repeated Province-wide mandate returned him in each election at the top of the poll.

In 2007 he became First Minister of Northern Ireland and upon retirement from elected service in 2010 he was elevated to the House of Lords, taking the title Bannside in honour of his North Antrim roots.

He was a member of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Privy Council from 2005 until his death in 2014.

When asked how he would describe himself, his reply was always, “A Minister of the Gospel.”

This very day he is in the Father’s House, and should you be able to speak to him, he may well say:

I do not see why I should e’er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track
To overtake me, who should miss me here
And long to know if I still held them dear.

They would not find me changed from him they knew -
Only more sure of all I thought was true. [Robert Frost]

Sermon Audio Recordings

To listen to Dr. I. R. K. Paisley’s Audio recordings from Sermon Audio click here.