Paisley's final sermon as Minister

Published Monday, 19 December 2011

The Reverend Ian Paisley has held his last service as Minister of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast.

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On Sunday night, the former DUP leader said farewell to the congregation he led for over seven decades.

In previous years, he retired from political life allowing the current First Minister Peter Robinson to take over as party leader.

However, the controversial preacher insisted that the Northern Irish public has not seen the last of him.

"I'll be crowing just as much as ever," Ian Paisley, now Lord Bannside, told UTV with a hearty laugh.

Rev William McCrea led the singing as hundreds of church members attended to hear 'The Big Man' for the last time.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell, who attended the ceremony, said: "I don't think we'll ever see the like of Ian Paisley again", while deputy leader Nigel Dodds, also an MP for the party, said that he didn't think Ian Paisley will "ever truly retire".

After the service, Dr Paisley spent time chatting with both young and old of his flock.

A member of the congregation said: "The church won't be the same without him; I mean I don't think any man's going to be able to fill the pulpit the same way he really could."

Comments

13 Comments

David in Glasgow wrote (142 days ago):

Ian Paisley has compromised in church and in politics. It is time the Ulster people return to the Word of God, to be reformed in doctrine, worship and practice. I was astonished to read him condemning those that do not teach their children to believe in a dead cardinal. Sorry Ian, you are wrong. Christmas has nothing to do with Biblical Protestantism that you claim to contend for.n And as for IRA in government - well thats another story - you never should have been in politics when you professed to be called to preach the everlasting Gospel

JoeSoapBox in Belfast wrote (154 days ago):

Big Ian has reached a crossroads in his life.Love him or loathe him,we listened to him.We didn't always like what he had to say.I had a facination with Ian from an early age.I bought an old reel to reel tape recorder in Smithfield Market for £8 in the 70's.Some of those tapes went back to the tent days when he was a hot Gospeller.Little did he know his word would reach into Republican Heartland.He scared me and my little brother,so we taped over them with Mudd.Showaddywaddy and Sweet.Kids eh?True story.

sharon in banbridge wrote (156 days ago):

No disrepsect but he sold the protestant people out shouting never, never for years and then went into government with sinn fein, has always made snide comments about the official unionists when they talked to these people. remember tv studios he could not even sit in the same studion as sinn fein, but then ended up beside them.

lorna in limavady wrote (156 days ago):

The problem with Paisley is he is a proud man and the proud have no place in God's kingdom. He is proud of his achievements. He believes long life has be a reward for all he has done for God. He should remember it was the security around him that kept him safe.And he never did them any favours. He said the Pope was the anti Christ being infallible to many of his followers he was that to them.I do not respect this man He can say God has given him a good life but he pushed this country to the brink of war and swelled the ranks of the IRA and that was not the will of God. Will he ever admit to the wrong he has done to the people of Northern Ireland with all the hate he drummed up. I don't think so for he thinks has has earned a reward from God but we know judgement day will be testing time for the proud

norman.d in bangor wrote (156 days ago):

paisley the forgotten man who sold himself for power and sit with the devil and GOD empied his church for his deeds a church that used to be full oh how the mighty fall good riddance

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