02/02/2005

Presbyterian Church confirm new moderator

The Presbyterian Church has confirmed that its next moderator will be the minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ahoghill, Dr Harry Uprichard.

Dr Uprichard will succeed Dr Ken Newell in June after being nominated by 12 out of the 21 Presbyteries which met on Tuesday.

Dr Uprichard said he was honoured to be called to "so important an office" and that his ministry was one of "teaching the scriptures in order to bring people to faith and to develop their witness".

Last year’s nominations saw Dr Uprichard tie with Dr Newell. A supplementary vote in March saw the current outgoing moderator elected by 12 presbyteries to 9.

Presbyteries are the governing bodies responsible for groups of approximately 25 congregations in different geographical locations around Ireland.

Dr Uprichard is the author of several books on New Testament theology and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1967.

In 1970 he was called to his current post at Ahoghill in Co Antrim where he has continued his parish ministry ever since.

(MB/SP)

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