Rev John Woodside

2002 - 2003

Fourteenth Minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church

John Woodside was born in Larne in1946.  He grew up in Gardenmore Presbyterian congregation, attended Larne Grammar School and studied  Biological and Agricultural Sciences at Queen's University, Belfast  and completed a Masters Degree in environmental science which led to a number of years lecturing at Greenmount College. It was at Greenmount that he undertook research into the effects of pollution from agricultural wastes  on the environment.  John played rugby for Larne and  Ballymena Rugby Clubs  and had a call to fulltime ministry in his early 30s.  

After training at Union Theological College he was called to Kilkenny Presbyterian Church where he ministered from 1984- 2002 before receiving and accepting a call to Ballywillan Presbyterian Church where he was installed on 20th April 2002.

John's wife Sandra was formerly a staff worker with IFES ( International Fellowship of Students) in Lebanon, France  and Ireland . They have 3 boys, Andrew (28)  who studied art and illustration at Edinburgh College of Art, Peter (22) who has just completed a degree (in 2012) in Media Production at the University of Ulster, Coleraine and works for Pi Communications Company as a cameraman- editor.  Johnny ( 20) is in his final year studying English and media in the National University of Ireland in Maynooth.

John preached his last sermon in Ballywillan on 31st August 2003 as he had then accepted a call to Drogheda Presbyterian Church where he was installed on 13th September 2003.