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Rev. ROSALIND TAGGART FIRST PRESBYTERIAN NON-SUBSCRIBING CHURCH, DUNMURRY. Amongst a number of our members who were invited to attend Dennis Aylmer and I were really delighted to be able to accept and set off in the afternoon of 18th August. Having received very precise directions from Sheila McMillan we found our way quite easily and were greeted by our old friend Very Rev. Bill McMillan who, in spite of the rain, took us on a brief tour of the wonderful and exotic garden which he has lovingly and skilfully created out of what was virtually waste land. The beautiful church, first established in 1646, had an excellent attendance for Rosalind's ordination commencing at 7.30 and conducted by The Rev. Brian Cockroft, Moderator of the Presbytery of Antrim and who is no stranger to us in Dublin. After opening with the hymn "O Worship the King" sung with great fervour we were led into prayers by Very. Rev Robert McKee the recently elected Moderator of the NSPCI who also read the first lesson from the Old Testament. The sermon , which laid due emphasis upon the need for women in our ministry, and we now have three, was preached by our own Rev. Chris Hudson, M.B.E. minister of All Souls' Belfast. After the second hymn the Clerk of Presbytery, Rev.Dr.J.W. Nelson, was the reader of the New Testament lesson and after this gave the customary exposition of Presbyterian Church Order. This was followed by the hymn "O, Jesus, I have promised", a most appropriate choice before the formal proceedings of the ordination when, after being questioned, Rosalind Taggart spoke movingly of her calling and mentioned her work in Sunday School and further afield. After the ordination in the presence of all the attending ministers and the prayer from the Moderator, the charge of the new Minister was given to her by Very Rev. Bill McMillan who delivered this with his customary skill and clarity. The prayer which followed from Rev. Rosalind Taggart and the Moderator's blessing brought a splendid ceremony to its close. At the invitation of the ladies, who had worked so hard in it's preparation, we were treated to a splendid reception in the church hall where all the visitors were made to feel most welcome and particularly those who had made the longer journeys. Dennis and I met many old friend and made many new acquaintances. We arrived safely back in Dublin after midnight and felt that it was a most worthwhile visit. My thanks are due to Dennis for his skilful driving.
Charlie McCaw |