The first Presbyterian minister in Ireland - Rev Patrick Anderson of Kirkoswald?

Next year, 2013, is the 400th anniversary of the arrival at Ballycarry, Co Antrim, of Rev Edward Brice of Drymen in Stirlingshire. He was invited over by William Edmonstone, one of Hugh Montgomery's right-hand men. Edmonstone had come to Ulster from Duntreath, about 10 miles north of Glasgow, as part of Montgomery's initial 1606 Ards settlement but he moved to Ballycarry in 1609. It's a beautiful spot, with the Scottish coastline visible just over Islandmagee. Both men, and their tenants and congregation, would have felt they were nearly as close to hame as they could get.

Rev Edward Brice has gone down in history as the first Presbyterian minister in Ireland - his impressive gravestone is in Templecorran church at Ballycarry, and nearby there is a memorial stone with a plaque which tells his story.

In recent researches however I have found the reference below to a slightly earlier one. Rev Patrick Anderson was the minister of Kirkoswald in Ayrshire. I've driven through Kirkoswald many times on the road between Turnberry and Maybole, and many folk know the Robert Burns comnections with the village. From the intriguing reference below he might well have just come over for one winter, and probably not as a serving minister. He was short of money, so what better place to go to than the booming Scottish colony of Antrim & Down which so many of his neighbours and congregation had already left for? In fact, perhaps mass migration from Ayrshire was one of the reasons he was short of money in the first place! Definitely requires further research. (those oul Andersons get everywhere...)



Kirkoswald Old Kirk today


Anderson's successor at Kirkoswald was a Rev John Burne, who remained as minister until 1660 when he, like so many others, was expelled from the pulpit during the early months of the 'Restoration' regime of King Charles II. Burne also had Ulster connections, he spent time in "the north and west parts of Ireland in and about Derry for three months because of the great scarcity of honest ministers in these bounds". On 22 June 1644 Burne was paid £50 by the Scottish Parliament to cover his expenses in travelling across; he was injured in Derry but I can't find any detail as to the circumstances.

Hopefully the Edward Brice 400th anniversary will not be overlooked for next year. Photos below are of the Brice memorials at Ballycarry.