A Co Antrim minister was last night elected the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
The Rev Dr Donald Patton during a press conference in Church House in Belfast after being elected the Presbyterian Moderator. Paul Faith/PA Wire
The Rev Dr Donald Patton, minister of Old Church, Randalstown was nominated by 11 of the 21 presbyteries who met throughout Ireland for the annual selection.
Dr Patton (57) will take up his post for one year at the Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast on June 3rd in succession to Dr John Finlay who continues as Moderator until then.
Last year Dr Patton was fourth out of six with two votes.
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There are an estimated 550 Presbyterian congregations in Ireland, 95 per cent of them in Northern Ireland, with a membership of around 280,000.