Ex-moderator’s funeral: ‘When he climbed the pulpit a holy hush fell’

The service for Rev Dr David McGaughey, Presbyterian moderator from 1994 to 1995, was held at Mourne Presbyterian Church, Kilkeel, where he was minister for 31 years. 

Rev McGaughey and his wife Anne had four children, Lynn, David, Hilary and Jane.

The service was conducted by incumbent and former protege of Rev McGaughey, Rev William Bingham, and Rev Nigel Reid from Markethill, who ministered to Rev McGaughey in his retirement years.

Rev Bingham said his mentor was “one of the most Godly men I have ever had the privilege of knowing” and that “every aspect of his life he lived for the Saviour”.

As a young man Rev McGaughey had felt led to Sandhurst Military Academy, but his minister persuaded him otherwise, he said.

“En route to ministry he responded to his country’s call at a time of great need and enlisted in the Ulster Special Constabulary. And through a near-death experience the Lord confirmed his call to Dr McGaughey to become a student for the ordained ministry.”

His mentor was a faithful friend who would tell “what you needed to hear” he said.

The former moderator’s faith sustained him to the very end, he said. “He was able to face death in a way that the world cannot.”

Rev Bingham also paid tribute to his care for his flock.

“Tears would flow down his face when he saw people coming to faith,” he said, adding: “When he climbed into the pulpit a holy hush descended on the congregation ... he brought us into the presence of God.”

He added: “There was no divergence between what he preached and how he lived his life. He wept with people and he wept over people.”

The former moderator “wooed people to Jesus ... it was a battle he won on his knees in prayer,” he added.

Rev Bingham said his mentor felt pastoral care was being greatly neglected in modern churches; he did not wear out a keyboard in his ministry, he said, but rather wore out the knees of his trousers in prayer and the soles of his shoes in visiting people.

“Not one family in the 1,000-family congregation was ever neglected.”

On one occasion the pair visited all 1,000 homes in two weeks. At times when people died in tragic circumstances he would spend several days in the family home, silently holding hands with the bereaved. And when people were very ill he would visit up to three times a day, Rev Bingham added.

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