On a lovely bright summer’s evening I made my way out over the hills to the city on a hill itself, Rathfriland, and down into the Sleepy Valley to visit Rev. and Mrs Magee.  Mr. Magee is of  the senior statesman of the RP Synod.  His experience as a minister of the gospel spans the half century and more.  He is a Donegal man like his life long friend, the late FS Leahy.  Mr. Magee was brought up in the Stranorlar congregation under the ministry of the late Rev. Campbell who he later succeed as minister of the Larne congregation.   On completing two years at the then Theological Hall Mr. Magee traveled to the RPCNA seminary in Pittsburgh. During his time there he was licensed and at the end of his training received calls from both sides of the Atlantic.  Thankfully he accepted the call from the joint charge of Fairview and Tullyvallen where he served before moving to Larne and then in latter years to his final charge of Rathfriland.  Mr. Magee has served on the College Committee for over 50 years and has had an influence on generations of men training for the ministry. It was a real privilege to have time to chat and tap in to his vast experience of pastoral ministry.  Thankfully Mr. Magee didn’t press me in any of my Greek which he is still a master at.

The hour at the Magee home passed too quickly and it was off to Newry to visit my parents.

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