The former Moderator and Minister Emeritus of First Lisburn Presbyterian Church, Dr William Boyd, has died aged 95. As the oldest living minister of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Boyd held the honorary title of "Father of the General Assembly" and last year celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination.
Noted for his humility and desire for simplicity, Dr Boyd has been described as the essence of biblical wisdom, a fine preacher and excellent pastor. He was a friend to many, who could always be trusted and was concerned about people and principles. He had an infectious good humour, and a fair mindedness, common sense and firmness made him an effective chairman of many church committees, school governing bodies and education boards.
Born on January 14th,1908, at Lear, near Bailieborough, William Boyd was the son of a Co Cavan farmer. He was brought up in the First Bailieborough congregation, known locally as Corglass, and educated at Lear National School and Bailieborough Model. In 1925 he went to Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with an MA before completing his ministerial studies at Assembly's College, Belfast.
After an assistantship in the Richview congregation in Belfast, Dr Boyd was ordained as minister of Burt Presbyterian Church in Co Donegal in 1932, where he met and married his wife Meta. In 1939 he was called to The Mall congregation in Armagh and on the outbreak of war volunteered as an army chaplain. In 1941 he was called up and served for five years in Northern Ireland, India, and with the 14th Division in Burmah, Siam and Malaya. In 1950 he became minister of First Lisburn where he remained until his retirement in December 1972.
He served the church with enthusiasm, not only in his own congregation but in the wider work of the General Assembly. He was convener of the Work among Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Committee for 15 years, and initiated an insurance scheme to help ministers in their retirement.
In 1967 he was elected as Moderator of the General Assembly and awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland.
He was also involved in the wider community, particularly in education and youth work, and was chairman of the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the governing boards of Forthill College and Wallace High School. He served as chairman of the Girls' Brigade in Ireland. Dr Boyd was a keen sportsman. A member of the Derry City rugby team which won the Town's Cup, he was until recently a regular on the golf course.
Addressing the assembly in 1968 at the conclusion of his moderatorial year, Dr Boyd expressed views ahead of his time in commenting on the growing gap between the church and community, views echoed 35 years later by the moderator at this year's assembly.
"While I was always graciously received there were times when I felt I was present through custom and not because folk felt the church and the community were involved together," Dr Boyd said. "This is what worries me; not that the church, the institution, is not in good heart, I believe it is, but that it is a community apart and to me the gap between the church and the community is growing wider."
Dr Boyd is survived by his wife Meta, and sons and daughters Rosemary, Sheila, John, Roger and Jennifer.
William Boyd: born January 14th, 1908; died July 8th, 2003.