Church members praise Paisley's 'zeal'

Ian Paisley founded the chruch in 1951

The Reverend Ian Paisley has been praised for his "unflinching and steadfast zeal" as the Free Presbyterian Church he founded marked its 50th anniversary in Belfast.

But the Democratic Unionist Party leader, who is moderator of the church, maintained he deserved no thanks for the successes of the breakaway evangelical denomination.

"The Lord saved me and when he saved me I gave him everything," Dr Paisley told a congregation of thousands gathered in Belfast's Odyssey Centre for a Jubilee service.

Dr Paisley, 74, took his wife Eileen on to the stage to thank her for her support during his ministry, established in Crossgar, County Down, in 1951.

"She never discouraged me, she sent me out when I should have been as well at home doing parental duties," he said.

"She said to go and do the work that God has sent you to do."

Worldwide spread

The church now has more than 100 congregations around the world - most in Northern Ireland, but with others in the Irish Republic, North America, Great Britain, Spain, India and Jamaica.

About 9,000 members attended the services led by Dr Paisley in Odyssey Arena on Sunday, where the church's strict observance of the Sabbath was enforced.

The venue, usually host to ice hockey fixtures and pop concerts, had been asked to close all canteen facilities and switch off vending machines as the church prohibits members from spending money on Sundays.

Dr Paisley was presented with a crystal ball and he quipped: "I will not throw it at anyone, I promise you that."

'Great debt'

Earlier, Clerk of Presbytery the Reverend John Douglas gave thanks for the growth of the church, and said: "For many of us this is a day we have been looking forward to for a long time."

He said of Dr Paisley: "We owe him an immeasurable debt, we are thankful to God for his leadership and his inspiring example in so many ways."

Dr Paisley had never gone back "when many a man has wavered, many a man has watered down the Word, temporised the issues," he added.

He told Dr Paisley: "You have stood fast with unflinching and steadfast zeal and I thank God for that."