Miss Anna Dalzell, aged 91, was called home on 15th May from Faith House where she had been a resident for around 3 years. Anna was a faithful member of the assembly at Ballyclare for over 40 years, and when she moved to Faith House she met with the saints at Wallace Avenue, Lisburn. She is missed by the assembly and her family. Anna was saved in 1939, at Lisnagat, where she worked on the farm, and cared for the family until she was 40 years of age. She then took up nursing, and moved to Ballyclare working as a district nurse until retirement. Her funeral was taken in the Hall at Ballyclare by J Todd and at the grave in Markethill by J Kelso.
Mr William Donnan was called home to be with Christ on 22nd June. He was saved at 14 years of age, and shortly after his conversion was gathered to the Lord's name in the assembly at New Road, Portavogie. Our highly esteemed brother was a most respected and godly member of the assembly for almost 80 years. William loved the Lord, and his grasp of the Scriptures he so dearly loved was amazing. His commitment to the gospel and to the Bible Reading was much appreciated. His love for sinners and his continual care and shepherding of the saints, along with his fervent prayers were greatly valued. He will be very sadly missed. He had an exemplary testimony in the village before the unsaved amongst whom he lived, and many of whom worked for him in his business over many years. He and his wife Jean showed much hospitality to the saints and visiting servants of the Lord over his long life. His kind heart and willing hands had oft ministered to the needs of others. Prayer is requested for his dear wife Jean who loved and tenderly looked after her husband at home over many years when our dear brother was unable to be out. Right to the very end he was lovingly cared for at home. His funeral service was conducted by W J Nesbitt and J Rogers assisted by local brethren.
Mrs Doreen English, aged 93, of Faith House, Belfast, went to be with the Lord peacefully on 16th June during her sleep. She was saved as a girl of 12 years in Belfast. In 1947, with commendation from the Ebenezer assembly, Belfast, she went to South Africa to marry Fred English who had gone to Cape Town the previous year to serve the Lord. They set up home in Cape Town where they lived and laboured for two years while learning the Afrikaans language. In 1949 they moved home to Worcester where there was no assembly and started to labour in the gospel. In days of opposition to the gospel, Doreen was a faithful partner to her husband as together they served the Lord. God blessed their work and souls were saved, with an assembly being planted in the town. They saw others saved and assemblies formed in the towns of Montagu and Robertson. Pre-deceased by her husband in 1976, Doreen remained in Worcester for some years, eventually moving home to Fish Hoek where she was active in the assembly and Emmaus Bible School work. In 2000 she returned to Northern Ireland and set up home in Dromore, Co Down, where she fellowshipped with the saints in the assembly. She maintained a practical and prayerful interest in the Lord's work in South Africa and at home, even in her "sunset years" when she was physically unable to gather with the assembly. A large congregation at a Service of Remembrance in Dromore Gospel Hall bore testimony to the esteem in which she was held. R Pickering spoke at the private burial and W Boyd brought a message from the Scriptures in the Hall. A family tribute was given by her son Lyle and an assembly tribute by D Graham, with other brethren assisting. She was a Christian lady who has left an example in devotion for others to follow. Please remember the family in prayer over the following days: daughter Anne, son-in-law Keith; son Lyle, daughter-in-law Janet; grandchildren Brenton and his wife Gayle, Kendal, Ian and Beverley and great grandchildren, Joseph and Eliza.
Mr David Kane (Evangelist), aged 93, passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on 14th April, after a prolonged illness. He was saved as a lad of eighteen years, on the roof of the Foundry where he worked. A young man was whistling the hymn, "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene". Every day it brought back memories of a lad of 10 years of age. His school master had asked the class of boys to get their mothers and fathers to go to a tent meeting which was pitched on the Shankill Road. The preacher was the late Mr Frank Knox, and David went with his mother. He was the only boy from the class to go and he heard the gospel for the first time. Many years passed before he heard again about the love of the Lord Jesus, who through his death on the cross, brought salvation to the sinner. So on that night, 5th October, 1940, he turned in true repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus and was saved. With having no connection with the assemblies, he went to his local church. But, through reading his Bible, he searched for the true place where the Lord's name was honoured. On a wet Sunday morning, he stepped into a hallway out of the rain and saw men and women entering a room. When asked to come in, he was shown a back seat and for the first time saw a remembrance meeting. He could not wait to tell his girlfriend, who had been saved two days after him. Both had been baptised in the Baptist Church on the Shankill Road. He told the Pastor that he was leaving to go to the Matchett Street Gospel Hall. In 1946, he married Miss Meta Meekin. They never had any family of their own, but were a big influence on all family members. With the blessing of the assembly, they were commended to Old Lodge Gospel Hall. Their home was an open door for all, and for many years nurses stayed with them. He had a great desire to make known the gospel, and received full commendation from the assembly, with every brother putting their name on the commendation letter in 1967. His first series was in a tent in Belfast's Sandy Row, with Mr Knox. He partnered a number of brethren in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales and there was blessing in salvation. He often said he never wrote to an assembly or entered into two week campaigns, but moved as the Lord led. Nothing made him happier than to see his tent being pitched, and he wore out five of them. Even after having heart surgery he continued to labour in the gospel. He was asked by a number of brethren who were on holiday if he could start Bible Readings, and the brethren at Ballintoy opened their hall for them. With the readings getting larger, they moved to Bushmills Gospel Hall, and they continue to this day. It did not stop there, for a number of Open-Airs started, not only in Bushmills itself, but also in Portrush and Portballintrae. He never got over the loss of his dear wife, after sixty-two years of married life. He went to live with his nephew, Andrew, and his wife, Sandra. After a period of two months, he returned home, with Andrew's two daughters calling every day to see him. Over the last few years, his health suffered with having two strokes. He went to Faith House, from where he passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord. He had left instructions as to who would look after his funeral, what hymns to be sung and with his favourite song first: "No Future but Glory Lord Jesus Have We" from the Old Gospel Hymn Book. His two nephews took part. In the Shankill Gospel Hall, T McCann gave tribute and B Glendinning preached a very clear gospel message. At the graveside, A McCann preached, and P Howarth prayed. Prayer is requested as some of the family members are still unsaved.
Mr Ross Kernaghan, aged 64, passed into the presence of his Saviour on 17th June. He was saved in April, 1989, baptized on 18th January, 1997, and received into the Drumlough assembly near Rathfriland where he remained until his homecall. He had been in declining health for some time but was very faithful in his attendance at all meetings. Despite physical difficulties he helped in the assembly gatherings and in the distribution of tracts and calendars around the town and district and among his neighbours. His large funeral service was held in the Gospel Hall on 19th June and was very well attended by the believers from surrounding assemblies, and also by many with whom he had worked in earlier years, as well as by many from the locality. The gospel was clearly presented by J Rogers in the hall and M Radcliffe at the graveside. The assembly mourn his passing and would appreciate prayer for his loving friend Miss Edith Skelly who is in fellowship in Shanaghan assembly, and also for unsaved relations.
Mr Norman Nicholls, aged 93, was called home on 27th June. Saved as a young man on his demobilisation from the Royal Navy at the end of the Second World War, he was, for many years, in the Church of England, but on moving to Scotland was baptised in Hopeman assembly and came into fellowship there. He spent some time in fellowship with the saints in Lossiemouth, Arbroath, and latterly Deans, Livingston, before moving to Eyemouth. While no longer able to meet with believers, he continued his interest in the gospel, both at home and abroad, and had an ongoing testimony in his local area.
Mr Charlie Rose, aged 89, was called home to be with his Lord on 4th March. He had met his wife, Sheina, whilst they both served their country in the armed forces being posted for duty at Prime Minister Clement Atlee's country estate [Chequers] during the Second World War. Whilst he was born and brought up in Windsor, as a young man he relocated to Scotland and was received into the fellowship of believers in the Gospel Hall in Sheina's home town of Carluke, in 1948. At the funeral service a simple acrostic of the name ROSE served as a fitting tribute to his memory – Reliable, Orderly, Supportive and Exceptional. He was involved in many avenues of service over the years and served among the believers as an elder. Like his wife, who died before him, he rarely missed a meeting and if he did there was a good reason. He was an inspiration and godly example to follow and is sadly missed by the assembly at Carluke.
Mr Thomas James (Tommy) Woods, aged 88, was called home on 9th June after a long period of illness. He was saved as a young man at the age of 14 under the preaching of Messrs Stewart and Campbell when they convened a series of tent meetings in "Bearney Glen" on the banks of the River Mourne close to Sion Mills. Shortly after entrusting his life to the Saviour he grew to love and serve, Tommy was baptised and received into fellowship to the assembly in Sion Mills and spent all his years in happy fellowship there. Not one to seek the limelight, he used his unique skills in other ways to support the fellowship and his brethren and sisters. He undertook to look after the fabric of the building, its repairs, and the maintenance of the grounds and any other practical jobs that required his energy, enthusiasm and zeal. He played an active role in the local assembly at Sion Mills for many years and remained a faithful attender at all of the meetings until a decline in his health in later years. He was lovingly cared for at home for many years by his devoted wife Sadie. He was loved, cherished and valued greatly by his daughter Pamela, her husband Andrew and grandchildren alike, and is now sadly missed by them all and by his surviving brother Cyril and sister Nan. His funeral was from the Gospel Hall and conducted by S Patterson and S Gilfillan. It was well attended, and the support and encouragement shown to the family at this time was greatly appreciated. Please remember his wife Sadie and the family circle in your prayers.
