The most recent addition to the Presbyterian Historical Society Library is a biography of Mary Barron by her husband, the Rev Robert Barron of Whitehouse.

Mary, born on 12 August 1855,  was the daughter of the Rev Robert Watts, Professor of  Systematic Theology at Assembly’s College Belfast.  Mary married firstly the Rev James Lyle Biggar, minister of Railway Street Lisburn Presbyterian Church and then Professor of Hebrew and Hermeneutics in Magee College, Londonderry.  Professor Biggar died in 1890 and Mary subsequently married the Rev Robert Barron of Whitehouse Presbyterian Church.

This is a heart-warming and spiritually uplifting biography that includes details of Mary’s  childhood days at Moneylane in Co Down, her abilities and effectiveness as a Bible Class teacher and her work with the Zenana Mission of which Mary was Home Secretary for many years.

Mary died on 15 July 1914. Her whole life was a wonderful testament to her strong Christian faith. The address at her funeral described her as a "gifted woman ...but two things impressed everyone who met her.  The first was her happiness.  She took a broad and happy view of life.  The air was full of the light of God’s presence, and the light shone all around her and made those with her as happy as herself.  The second thing was her constant unselfishness."

Author: Barron, Robert
Title: Mary Barron - A Biography
Publication date: 1st Edition 1915
Publisher: The Sabbath School Society for Ireland, Belfast
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 252