A tribute to Dr. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley - a podcast by Carryduff FPC

By Rev. David McLaughlin, Minister of Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church.

As a church family we were plunged into a state of shock and mourning on Friday morning by the sudden passing of Dr. Paisley (Lord Bannside), the founding father of our denomination and former moderator of the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.

On behalf of the Kirk Session and Committee of Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church we extend our deep sympathy to Baroness (Eileen) Paisley and family, Sharon, Rhonda, Cherith, Ian, Kyle and their families, on the death of a much loved husband, father and grandfather, and assure them of our thoughts and prayers at this time.

Dr. Paisley’s death marks the end of an era in Ulster. For six decades he stood in this province (often alone) as a faithful spiritual leader who was fiery and passionate about what he believed in. Ian Paisley was definitely a lover of the Lord. A gifted orator whose words were fuelled by a heart full of passion, as he proclaimed the one way of salvation through his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

From his pulpit in the Martyrs Memorial  for 60 years, he sounded out the Gospel message, under such striking titles as:

–  ‘What think ye of Christ’ (22nd-Dec 1968)

– ‘How to Set a Church on Fire’ (25th-Jan1970)

– ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, There is Liberty’ (25th-Oct1987)

– ‘Patrick the man’ (03-Dec 2000)

– ‘Light on Religious Revivals from Zachariah’s Candlesticks’ (17th-Apr 2005)

These sermons and 100s more are freely available via sermonaudio.com

The Bible reference that he added underneath his signature when asked to sign books or Bibles was clearly a prayer and a pledge; Ephesians 6:19-20:



And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.



His chief motivation in all he said and did was his love for his Lord.



The ‘Doc’ as we affectionately called him was also a lover of the lost. From a young age he laboured as a zealous evangelist, who covered thousands of miles in the search for lost souls. He was one who taught our congregations and hearers everywhere to love the souls of men.

He was equally a lover of the Land. A true loyalist indeed. A ‘Shamgar’ for our day and generation. Like a  ‘Mr. Valiant-for-Truth’, Dr. Paisley prominently stands in the noble line of the men and women from Protestant Reformation times as he tackled the apostasy and false religion of these modern times. On many occasions he gave lectures on the Protestant Reformers; take a look around the corridors of ‘Martyrs’ Memorial’ next time you’re there; the very walls commemorate those noble men and women who gave their lives for the cause of Christ in their day and Generation. Surely we can say of Dr. Paisley, “He served his own generation well”.

He was a lover of Liberty. A great stalwart in prayer; always encouraging and inspirin...

Further episodes of Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church

Further podcasts by Carryduff FPC

Website of Carryduff FPC