TWO long-standing members of Dunfanaghy Presbyterian Church have been honoured at a ceremony in the church.
Between them, Ethel Montgomery and Raymond Lyttle have given more than 100 years of service to the church.
Both had been serving as elders in Dunfanaghy Kirk Session but have now decided to stand down, taking on the distinguished mantle of “Elder Emeritus”.
Tributes to the pair were led by the Rev Dario Leal, minister of Dunfanaghy and Carrigart congregations, at the ceremony which took place on Sunday.
Presentations were made to Mrs Montgomery and Mr Lyttle on behalf of the two congregations, and during the service, the congregation sang items of praise which were their personal favourites.
After the presentations, the two were guests of honour at a lavish reception in the church hall organised by the ladies of Dunfanaghy congregation.
In his tribute, Mr Leal said that Mrs Montgomery’s first role had been as organist at Milford Presbyterian so when she married Philip Montgomery and moved to Dunfanaghy she started helping out her father-in-law Andrew in his role as organist.
In 1977 she assumed the role of church organist and continued to play until 2024. She served as congregational treasurer and was ordained as an elder in 1992, rising to become clerk of session.
Mrs Montgomery’s responsibilities included leading the Presbyterian Women branch in Dunfanaghy and representing the church at various meetings in Donegal Presbytery and in Belfast. She was also a member of the Donegal Presbytery choir.
Mr Leal said: “Ethel, you have been an example to us all over the years for your faithful and diligent work for this congregation as you have served our Lord in this corner of his kingdom.”
Turning to Mr Lyttle, Mr Leal recalled that he had been brought up in Donoughmore congregation in east Donegal but began to worship at Convoy Presbyterian when he married his wife Phyllis.
Mr Lyttle was ordained as an elder in 1979 and attended Donegal Presbytery meetings as well as the church’s General Assembly in Belfast.
As well as being an impressive singer, Mr Lyttle enjoyed playing badminton and represented Donoughmore in earlier years, reaching senior status, and representing his county.
Mr Leal said: “Raymond has a display cabinet full of trophies, awards and cups which prove his prowess as a badminton player.”
The Lyttles moved to Dunfanaghy to be close to their daughter Judith and joined the Session there. Mr Leal said he was very much a hands-on person, checking the oil tank and ensuring the heating was working, while supervising the work of the caretaker.
“Raymond, thank you for your dedication to duty and service over the years to three congregations but especially today for your Christian witness here in Dunfanaghy.”
During the proceedings a selection of photographs was screened in the church showing Mrs Montgomery and Mr Lyttle down the years, including pictures of the orders of service from their original ordination services as elders.
