About
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The Rev. John Wallace Nelson
I was born on 1st of October 1955, the only child of T.F. Wallace and Muriel Nelson. While born in the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast, I was brought to the family home at Carnduff, Larne, a week later and lived there ever since.
I was educated at Larne and Inver Primary School and afterwards at Larne Grammar School, before going on to Queen's University Belfast. My home congregation was The Old Presbyterian Church of Larne and Kilwaughter, where I was baptised; where my father was an Elder and my grandfather had been Church Secretary. My family have been connected with that church for at least 350 years. In time I became Sunday School Superintendent of that congregation and held that office until I went to study in England. I also served at denominational Youth Convenor and organised youth activities with young people from across the congregations.
At Queen's University, I studied Modern History, taking the B.A. degree in 1978 and then applied to undertake research towards the degree of M.A. Things changed however along the way and, while I did not obtain an M.A., I was awarded a Ph.D. instead in 1985.
During this period I felt drawn towards the Christian ministry, and was received by the Presbytery of Antrim as a student for the ministry in 1980. There followed three years study at the Victoria University of Manchester, where I received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1983.
In the course of the summer of that year, having been Licensed by Presbytery, I received Calls from the Old Presbyterian Church Ballycarry and from Raloo Non-Subscribing Prebysterian Church. I was Ordained and Install in Ballycarry on the 10th of September 1983 by the Presbytery of Antrim and Installed in Raloo by the same Presbytery on 24th September 1983. I remain a minister of both congregations.
Over the years I have served the church in various capacities. For 12 years I acted as Clerk of the General Synod, and from 1986 until present I have acted as Clerk of the Presbytery of Antrim. I have also served since 2005 as Secretary of the Orphan Society. In addition to my own congregations I have acted, at various time as Minister-in-Charge of Antrim, Cairncastle, Larne and Crumlin congregations.
Within the wider church community, I have been a member of Larne Ministers Club, the Inter-Church Forum for Clergy and churches of Larne and District, since my Ordination and have been secretary of that body since 2002. Within the communities which I serve I have been active in Ballycarry Community Association. In Raloo I have been pleased to be associated with Gleno Valley Young Farmers Club, acting for many years as a Vice President. As a countryman I have always felt at home in rural communities. Indeed, some years ago I did a little bit of farming myself.
I was educated at Larne and Inver Primary School and afterwards at Larne Grammar School, before going on to Queen's University Belfast. My home congregation was The Old Presbyterian Church of Larne and Kilwaughter, where I was baptised; where my father was an Elder and my grandfather had been Church Secretary. My family have been connected with that church for at least 350 years. In time I became Sunday School Superintendent of that congregation and held that office until I went to study in England. I also served at denominational Youth Convenor and organised youth activities with young people from across the congregations.
At Queen's University, I studied Modern History, taking the B.A. degree in 1978 and then applied to undertake research towards the degree of M.A. Things changed however along the way and, while I did not obtain an M.A., I was awarded a Ph.D. instead in 1985.
During this period I felt drawn towards the Christian ministry, and was received by the Presbytery of Antrim as a student for the ministry in 1980. There followed three years study at the Victoria University of Manchester, where I received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1983.
In the course of the summer of that year, having been Licensed by Presbytery, I received Calls from the Old Presbyterian Church Ballycarry and from Raloo Non-Subscribing Prebysterian Church. I was Ordained and Install in Ballycarry on the 10th of September 1983 by the Presbytery of Antrim and Installed in Raloo by the same Presbytery on 24th September 1983. I remain a minister of both congregations.
Over the years I have served the church in various capacities. For 12 years I acted as Clerk of the General Synod, and from 1986 until present I have acted as Clerk of the Presbytery of Antrim. I have also served since 2005 as Secretary of the Orphan Society. In addition to my own congregations I have acted, at various time as Minister-in-Charge of Antrim, Cairncastle, Larne and Crumlin congregations.
Within the wider church community, I have been a member of Larne Ministers Club, the Inter-Church Forum for Clergy and churches of Larne and District, since my Ordination and have been secretary of that body since 2002. Within the communities which I serve I have been active in Ballycarry Community Association. In Raloo I have been pleased to be associated with Gleno Valley Young Farmers Club, acting for many years as a Vice President. As a countryman I have always felt at home in rural communities. Indeed, some years ago I did a little bit of farming myself.
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As a historian, I have been active in the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. I served on the Council of the Society from 1993, as a Vice President since 2005. I have published "A Short History of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland" in 2022, and several other articles on Irish Presbyterian themes.
In the midst of all these activities my work has chiefly been in the pastoral ministry, seeking to lead and care for the congregations which have been committed to me, for which privilege I thank God. J.W. Nelson |
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