The Rt Rev Dr Donald Patton Moderator of the General Assembly	The Rt Rev Dr Donald Patton, Moderator of the General Assembly (right) pictured with former Moderator, the Very Rev Dr Howard Cromie, Senior Minister of Railway Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn.

From Sunday 2nd November to Sunday 9th November, The Rt Rev Dr Donald Patton, Moderator of the General Assembly will conduct a series of services and visits within the Dromore Presbytery. The Moderator�s week of engagements are as follows:

Sunday 2nd November
Morning: Harvest Thanksgiving Service at First Dromore Presbyterian Church at 11.30am.
Evening: Second Dromara Presbyterian Church at 6.30pm.

Tuesday 4th November
Morning: Visit to Lagan Valley Hospital.
Afternoon: Visit to Lisburn Civic Centre and meeting with the Mayor.
Evening: Meeting of Dromore Presbytery.

Wednesday 5th November
Afternoon: Agricultural visits.

Thursday 6th November
Morning: Harmony Hill Primary and Wallace High School.
Afternoon: Dromore High School.
Evening: Tea for ministers and wives at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church.

Sunday 9th November
Morning: Act of Remembrance at Lisburn War Memorial followed by morning worship in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church at 11.30am.
Evening: United Service in Railway Street Presbyterian Church at 6.30pm.

Dr Patton has been minister of Old Church Randalstown for the last 6 years. Born in Warrenpoint on 30th May 1950, he spent his early years in Londonderry before his father�s work took the family to Portadown. A member of Armagh Road Presbyterian Church he attended Portadown College and later graduated from Queen�s University Belfast with a BSSc in 1971 and BD in 1974. In 1993 he was awarded a PhD, also from Queen�s. After ordination as assistant in Trinity Bangor in 1975 he became minister of First Dromore in 1977 and after six years was called to Greystone Road, Antrim. In 1988 he became minister of Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church in Finaghy before moving to OC Randalstown in 2002.

Dr Patton is a keen historian and was convenor of the Presbyterian Historical Society from 1990 until 1996. He has written a short history of First Dromore Presbyterian Church and edited a number of other books on church history.

He is married to Florence and has two sons, two daughters and a grandson. Dr Patton took up office as Moderator in succession to Dr John Finlay at the opening session of the 2008 General Assembly on Monday 2nd June.

22/10/2008