Captured by a Vision

"...we are more than capable of transforming our own country."

These are the words of an Irish Presbyterian minister who participated in some of the most important events in the recent history of Northern Ireland.

Ken Newell was born in North Belfast in 1942, just after the Blitz. He graduated in Classics and Philosophy at Queen's University before studying Theology at Presbyterian College. After further training at Cambridge and in Holland, he was ordained in 1968. He served in Bangor, Co Down, before being called to teach at a seminary on the island of Timor in Indonesia. He returned to Belfast in 1976, at the height of the 'Troubles', to work in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, where he remained minister for the next 32 years.

His work of religious bridge-building and a special friendship with Fr Gerry Reynolds triggered many ground-breaking initiatives within the turbulent life of Belfast through the creative and persistent influence of the Clonard-Fitzroy Fellowship. This pioneering relationship between his congregation and Clonard Monastery in the west of the city provided the context for their work in political reconciliation.

With considerable courage, Ken became involved in secret discussions with Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups, contributing to the IRA and Loyalist ceasefires of 1994. For this work he and Fr Reynolds were awarded the Pax Christi International Peace Prize for a 'grassroots reconciliation initiative'.

In 2004 he became Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and received an OBE for 'his contribution towards peace'.

This is his memoir.