The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) is pleased to announce that Rev. E. Trevor Kirkland, Ballyclare & Doagh, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is the Moderator-Designate of the 2025 General Assembly. Mr Kirkland, a native of Northern Ireland, was born into a farming family and had the inestimable privilege of being raised in a Christian home. However, in the spiritual realm, more is needed than the faith of our parents; a fact Mr Kirkland would go on to discover for himself whilst still in his youth. Convicted of his own need of salvation he was led to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ whilst still at an early age.
Even in his youth Mr Kirkland was conscious of a call to serve the Lord in ministry and made a vow that, being spared, he would dedicate his life to the service of his Lord and Master. This led him from school to university, from which he would graduate with an honours degree. Following his graduation he entered secular employment for a number of years.

Moderator-Designate of the 2025 General Assembly Rev. E. Trevor Kirkland

However the promise which had been made about serving the Lord was never forgotten and after some time, acknowledging the necessity of fulfilling the vow, he entered into ministerial training. In the process of time he was ordained and settled into pastoral ministry in a Baptist Church in Templepatrick, Co Antrim. Some time thereafter Mr Kirkland became convinced of the Regulative Principle of Worship and this new understanding, that every aspect of worship requires the warrant of the Lord, altered everything entirely. For a time Mr Kirkland maintained his position on baptism but a second change that subsequently led to an application to the Free Church (Continuing), was embracing covenant theology in its fullness.
At the General Assembly of 2014 Mr Kirkland was received into the denomination. At that same Assembly a portion of what was by then known as Templepatrick Reformed Church, were also admitted and the Southern Presbytery held a recognition service for the minister and congregation on 1st July 2014.
Since that time Mr Kirkland has become increasingly active in the wider denomination, serving as an assistant editor for the Witness magazine. He is also currently the Convener of the Public Questions, Religion and Morals Committee.
An avid reader, with a very retentive memory, he often contributes engaging and helpful book reviews for various journals. Mr Kirkland takes particular pleasure in taking visitors to local sites of special historical and religious significance. This keen interest in church history made him a fitting choice as Lecturer in Church History & Church Principles in the Free Church Seminary on the retirement of Rev John W. Keddie in 2019.  Mr Kirkland has been involved for many years with the work of the Trinitarian Bible Society and currently serves on its General Committee.
Married to Diane they have been blessed with four children, two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.
Mr Kirkland craves the prayers of the Lord’s people as he prepares for the duties of his Moderatorial year.
Murdo A N Macleod (Media Officer)