Special installation service for new Glengormley minister

Rev Reuben McCormick and his wife Glenda.

The installation service of a PCI minister would usually take place in the minister’s new church. Present at that service would normally be members from the minister’s previous and new congregations, friends and family members, guests who have played a significant part in the minister’s life and their faith journey, and members of the local presbytery, the Church’s regional body that has responsibility for overseeing the congregation and others in its area, as well as the installation itself.

On this occasion, however, the Presbytery of North Belfast conducted the service with only four members of the Presbytery participating in the installation, each maintaining appropriate social distancing in the large Assembly Hall. There was one guest, Mr McCormick’s wife, Glenda.

“I must admit, the circumstances were unusual, but the actual service itself, as prescribed in PCI’s constitution, remained exactly the same,” explained Trevor Long OBE, the Clerk of the North Belfast Presbytery.

“Reuben was one of the last two ministers in PCI to have been called to a new congregation prior to the Lockdown, but had their installation services cancelled. It had been planned to install him as minister of the congregation of Glengormley Presbyterian Church in April, but the restrictions caused by COVID 19 sadly prevented this from happening. As a presbytery we were so thankful that the service could take place and that that those who would normally have attended could watch and take part in the service via the livestream,” Mr Long said.

Glengormley Presbyterian’s roots go back to the 1880s, but it wasn’t until 1936 that the congregation was established. Today the church has 374 families of around 670 people. The vacancy in the Church was caused by the retirement of Rev David Brice in May 2019, who had been minister for 14 years. Having begun the formal process of calling a new minister to the church, a full congregational meeting took place prior to the Lockdown and had ‘called’ Rev Reuben McCormick as their new minister.

Originally from Newtownards he lived in Lucan in Co Dublin for 11 years, where the 44-year-old father-of-two was licensed to preach the gospel in a service in his home congregation, Lucan Presbyterian, in 2012. He then served for three years in First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church, assisting the minister there, until being called to Ballysillan Presbyterian Church as their minister in 2015, where he was ordained.

Speaking after his installation Rev McCormick said: “This has been a different night, but a very special one, and I would like to thank the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, for enabling us to have this service here this evening. I also want to thank the congregation of Ballysillan for their friendship and kindness towards us as family, as we have journeyed together over the last five years.

“As we make the transition, I am really looking forward to getting to work and getting to know the people who make the Glengormley Presbyterian what it is, sharing our lives with them as we seek to follow Jesus together and inviting others to do the same. While we are scattered and cannot meet, I am praying for the day when we can. In the meantime, we can gather online this Sunday to worship, as I open God’s Word and preach for the first time as the new minister.”

The service began with a welcome and call to worship by the Moderator of the Presbytery of North Belfast, Rev Alan Carson of Abbey Monkstown Presbyterian Church. During the service, which included three pre-recorded hymns, Rev Stephen Lowry of Whitehouse Presbyterian read from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Having consented to the Statement of the Standards of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, which were read out by Presbytery Clerk, Trevor Long, answered the required questions regarding them, which were put by the Moderator, and subscribed to the Church’s Subordinate Standards, the historic Westminster Confession of Faith, the Moderator prayed for Mr McCormick and installed him as minster. The sermon, based on the reading from Colossians (Chapter 1:24 to Chapter 2:5) was given by Rev Colin Morrison, minister of Eglinton Presbyterian, who convened the Glengormley vacancy.

Those present - and those watching online - also heard short pre-recorded speeches of greeting by Fred Blair, the Clerk of Session of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church and Derek Kyle, Glengormley’s Clerk of Session, after the service proper finished.

Speaking after the service, North Belfast Presbytery Moderator, Rev Alan Carson said: “The Presbytery is delighted that we have been able to use Assembly Buildings and the right technology which has made this installation service possible this evening.

“This is great news for Glengormley congregation as well as Reuben and Glenda and their two children Lilly and Malachi. We wish them all God’s richest blessing as an exciting new chapter opens for them in the midst of so much that is difficult and challenging for many of us.”

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