Longford's Presbyterian congregation welcomes new Minister Rev Wallace Moore

Presbyterianism in Longford has a long and storied history that spans three and a half centuries.
The local religious community is celebrating 350 years of continuous worship in the county this year, and it will be marked by a new Minister.
The present building in Corboy may have been built following an exodus of Presbyterians to America from County Longford in 1729 to escape persecution in Ireland.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached at Corboy church sometime during the mid-eighteenth century, probably around 1748.
The latest chapter in the history of the Presbyterian flock expands as Reverend Wallace Moore was ordained, installed and inducted as Minister of Mullingar and Corboy Presbyterian Churches last Saturday, January 11 in a ceremony in Mullingar.
Before his formal ordination Rev Moore was visiting the oldest surviving Presbyterian meeting house in continual use outside of Ulster, one in use by the oldest Presbyterian congregation in the midland.

Rev Moore will host service in Corboy Presbyterian Church, which is linked with Mullingar, County Westmeath as part of the Dublin and Munster Presbytery.
“It's going to be a wee bit different from what I'm used to,” he told the Leader in advance of being confirmed to his new role.
“This will be my first charge as a full minister. Where I've been before this, in Newtownards, we have seven Presbyterian churches in one town. Moving down here, with one Presbyterian church in the whole county of Westmeath, which is Mullingar, and one Presbyterian church in the county of Longford, which is Corboy, is a wee bit different.”

Corboy has on average around 25 parishioners, while Mullingar can attract up to 50 to the services.
“It's a small community here in the Midlands here, but our hope is that God blesses us and the church grows, and that's the excitement of the mission that we're here for as well,” Rev Moore said.
The rich history of Corboy is something the new appointee appreciates: “It's a fairly small congregation, that's one thing, but obviously it's an enduring congregation. It's a congregation that has been here for quite a while.

“Corboy this year celebrates 350 years, which is fantastic that there's been that gospel witness here all that time. We want to celebrate that and encourage that, encourage the congregation to continue to be a Christian witness here in Longford and Edgeworthstown.”
Rev Moore, along with his wife Jane, comes to the Midlands for his first ministry. Before this he had a secular life: “I haven't come into the ministry as a young pup, I've had a life before this, which is good. I was born in Derry and brought up in Derry in the 70s.
“When I was at the age of 16, I had that opportunity of going on further studies or to take an apprenticeship. I went and took an apprenticeship and moved to Belfast in Bombardier Aerospace, which is obviously one of the biggest employers in Northern Ireland.
“It was a big move then from Derry to East Belfast. I stayed there for 31 years in Bombardier, working my way up through the company.”

His work saw him rise to senior manager with Bombardier Aerospace, but the call of God was always there: “I still felt the call to the ministry later on in my life. I was always involved in church work and as a Christian witness, but I started feeling called to the ministry. But I thought maybe I'm too old or I'd have to go back to school and come back to college in my late 40s.
“It filled me with fear, but God's been good. We explored those doors and now I've ended up here.”
As with any such decision, the choice is just the start of the journey: “Five years ago, this process started, three years of college and then two years of serving on an assistantship in Newtownards. Now God has opened up these doors, Mullingar and Corboy. That's intriguing.”

Growing up in the North, during a turbulent time for Ireland, has informed Rev Moore's life: “Derry is not the place that it was when I was growing up.
“It was very informative and I had a great time there and learned a lot. I noticed that coming down to the Midlands of Ireland, people are very, very welcoming to people from the north.
“I find a real interest, a curiosity in one sense of what we're doing as a Christian faith and as a church.
“I sense the Presbyterian Church actually is growing in the south of Ireland, maybe even more than what it is in the north, which is really, really encouraging. That's part of the mission, and that's what excites us about coming here, because we feel that people are open and starting to be open again to the gospel.”

He acknowledges the challenges of his new posting: “Our mission is to preach about the word of Christ, to preach Jesus. That's not just in church. I'm involved in community work.
“When I was working in Shorts, or Bombardier, I voluntarily worked with the church in the community, being a Christian witness where we live, among our neighbours, among the community groups. That's what we see our mission is, to be a Christian, presenting the gospel, presenting Jesus in our everyday lives.”

Reverend Moore says the gospel is part of everyday life: “It's not only about preaching it from church, but letting people see it in how we live and how we engage with each other. That's why I'd like to get involved in the community, to be seen in the community. If people see me, say hello, and maybe I'll be in the coffee shops and just chat and be a Christian in everyday life.”
“I'd be offering hope in the gospel. The gospel is not just a dead-end message. The gospel is a life-changing message. I've experienced that within my life and many others. I'll be encouraging people to come and just be open to hear what God has to say to you.”

That message is a message for everyone: “Bring your burdens and lay them before Christ. And obviously, say Jesus is a life-changing experience and for eternity. That's what I want people to know, that there's a community that loves them.

“There's a God that loves them. There's a God who is a gracious God and is a forgiving God. And that's open to everybody, regardless of what your background has been and where you're coming from.”

Reverend Moore says his initial interactions have been very positive: “I'd just like to thank the people of the communities around here as well. They've already made us welcome.
“We've settled in really, really well. I'd like to encourage people to come and just see what we're about. The doors are open here in Corboy and in Mullingar each Sunday.

Read next: https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/local-news/1704480/longford-s-byt-brings-winter-wonder-to-the-stage.html