The new Chairman of the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland is the Very Rev Dr W Donald Patton.

The Rev Dr Patton has served in a number of congregations – First Dromore, Greystone Road in Antrim, Lowe Memorial in Finaghy and currently Old Church Randalstown.  He has held the highest position in the Presbyterian Church having been Moderator of the General Assembly 2008-9.

A keen historian, he obtained a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast in 1993 on the life of the Rev Dr James McCosh, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at Queen’s College, Belfast, 1851-68, and later President of what is now Princeton University in New Jersey.

As well as writing a short history of First Dromore Presbyterian Church he has also edited a number of other books on church history.  He has had a long association with the Presbyterian Historical Society, being a Council member since 1982, and acting as one of its Honorary Secretaries, 1990-97.