Tribute to Rev. James McClelland

As a congregation, we would like to offer our deepest sympathy and unending prayers of comfort for June and the family circle of Rev. James McClelland. His testimony and life’s work, recounted at our church in 2022, continues to have an impact in the lives of all that listen to it.

Death Notice

Rev. James K. McClelland

Passed away peacefully at home, 68 Whispering pines, 17th July 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Beloved Husband of June.
Father of Jonathan, Ruth, Ester, Rhoda, Debbie, Rose and David.
Father in law of Helga, Billy, Davy, Colin and Dee.
Grandfather of Claire, Connor, Jessica, Andrew, Sadie and Elliot.
Dear brother of Frank (May), Yvonne (Ronnie), Jenny (Penny) and the late Rosemary.

Funeral service in Browns Funeral Home on Friday 25th July 2025 at 11.30am followed by committal in Enagh Cemetery at 1.00pm.

All welcome to call at the family home any time.

Family flowers only please.
Donations if desired and cheques payable to Leukaemia (Belfast City Hospital).

C/o Browns Funeral Directors 21 Aghanloo ind est, Aghanloo road Limavady BT49 0HE.

Those wishing to leave messages of sympathy or express their condolences may do so by visiting the Facebook page for FuneralTimes Derry/Londonderry and accessing the comment section under James’ notice:

Will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his entire family circle.

‘Peace perfect peace’

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Tribute to Rev. James McClelland’s Life Work

Pre-1960: Early Life

• Background: Born in 1942 on the Mealough Road, Carryduff, Northern Ireland, James grew up with a strong work ethic and a talent for the technical. These skills became a cornerstone of his ministry and broadcasting efforts reflecting the words of King Solomon, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”.
• Conversion (4th May 1960): At 18, James found faith in Christ during a mission led by Dr. Ian Paisley at Murphy’s Loft in Carryduff, near Belfast. He prayed a sinner’s prayer with his friend Harry Agnew, drawing on 1 John 1:7 (“the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”) and 1 John 1:9. This conversion experience, part of a young people’s fellowship formed after the 1955 Jack Schuler crusade at Belfast’s Kings Hall, sparked his lifelong passion for evangelism. The fellowship, which moved to Murphy’s Loft after challenges at Carryduff Presbyterian Church, taught James to pray publicly and share the Gospel. Camping trips to Donegal and Limerick built his boldness, like when he offered a Gospel tract to a priest in Limerick.

1960–1964: Growing in Faith and Learning Technical Skills

• Young People’s Fellowship (1960–1964): James immersed himself in the Carryduff fellowship, learning to share his testimony and evangelise. Speakers like Pastor Fenton and Mrs. Seth Sykes, whose singing at the organ moved him deeply, shaped his approach to ministry. These experiences fuelled his evangelistic zeal, evident in his later preaching and broadcasting.
• Technical Training in Cambridge (Pre-1972): Before the inception of LTBS, an outreach project of Truth for Youth led by Dr. Alan Cairns, James travelled to Cambridge to study sound recording and radio broadcasting. This training gave him the expertise to handle reel-to-reel tape recording and editing, crucial for his role as LTBS’s primary sound engineer. James was committed to quality, as he insisted on the best equipment and performances for LTBS recordings.

1963–1964: First Student Minister at Sandown Free Presbyterian Church

• James’s Role as First Student Minister (circa 1964): After a Gospel campaign by Pastor William Mullan, James was appointed Sandown’s first student minister. He rolled up his sleeves, recruiting young people like Ian McVeigh and Andrew Doggart to help with construction tasks, such as gathering breeze blocks and bricks.  A brick church was built, opening on the first Saturday of November 1964 for Gospel preaching. His preaching led to conversions, including Edith Macdonald’s, helping Sandown grow during the 1960s revival. James’s faithful ministry at Sandown resulted in many being led to the Lord, with converts still faithful years later, a testament to his preaching.

1964–1967: Theological Training at the Theological Hall, Whiteabbey

• Admission and Studies (November 1964–1965): At 21, James was interviewed by the Free Presbyterian Presbytery in November 1964, preached on an assigned text in December, and was accepted as a student. He began studies in January 1965 at the Theological Hall under Dr. Ian Paisley and Pastor James Kyle Paisley, alongside Ivan Foster, William Beattie, and James Beggs. This training rooted him in reformed theology, preparing him for pastoral and technical roles.
• Helping Build Bethel FPC in Lisbellaw (1966–1967): As a student minister and budding electrician, James helped rewire a property in Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, bought for £800 to establish Bethel FPC. Working with Ivan Foster, he helped transform a shop and store into a hall seating 140. The hall opened on 11th February 1967, with Dr. Paisley and Rev. John Wylie preaching, and James supported the Gospel mission that followed, aiding the congregation’s constitution in March 1967 under Rev. Alan Cairns.

1967–1971: First Minister of Mourne Free Presbyterian Church

• Starting Mourne FPC (January 1967–1971): James successfully applied to the Presbytery to establish Mourne FPC, constituted in January 1967. As its first minister, he poured his heart into preaching and pastoring, focusing on biblical authority, salvation by grace, and separation from ecumenism, laying a strong foundation for the congregation.
• Church Building Project (1968): In 1968, James helped secure land for a church building, a key step for Mourne FPC’s future. He led planning and fundraising, drawing on his practical experience from Sandown and Lisbellaw.
• Impact: His four-year ministry built a solid base, preparing him for his next role in Londonderry.

1971–1983: Pastor of Londonderry Free Presbyterian Church

• Taking the Helm (June 1971–1983): In June 1971, James accepted a call to pastor Londonderry FPC, founded in 1967 after Rev. John Wylie’s Gospel campaigns, where 30 people came to faith. He led services at Ardmore Road, Drumahoe, and initially at Britannia Hall, Society Street, fostering steady growth over 12 years.
• New Church Building at Lisnagelvin (1975–1983): By 1975, James saw the need for a larger space and led plans for a new church at Lisnagelvin, Londonderry. Work began on 1st January 1981, with Dr. Paisley cutting the sod, and the building opened on 5th November 1983. After the church opened, Colin Mercer began attending the Free Presbyterian Church along with his siblings, and was later called into the ministry, a testament to James’s influence through his leadership and preaching.

• Spiritual Impact: James’s preaching, rooted in salvation and biblical authority, built on the 1967 conversions, helping the congregation thrive.

1972–1984: Co-Founder and Primary Sound Engineer of Let the Bible Speak

• Launching LTBS (1972–1974): As the primary sound engineer for LTBS, a Youth Council project, James leveraged his Cambridge training to launch the ministry. He began recording weekly broadcasts for Manx Radio in 1973, using reel-to-reel tape in Ballymoney FPC’s prayer room. Working with Dr. Alan Cairns as preacher and his brother, Dr. Frank McClelland involved in finance, he was instrumental in producing all the broadcasts for LTBS, manually editing the tapes, a labour-intensive process. The old Cabra FPC building, vacated when the congregation moved to Ballymoney in 1951, was repurposed as LTBS’s studio. James and Frank McClelland, Dr. Alan Cairns, John Hanna, and Grahame Stronge transformed the space with countless hours of work, installing a sound desk, cabling, trunking, rewiring, and sound insulation. James insisted on the highest quality, ensuring recording machines were serviced for peak performance. By April 1974, he established the Cabra studio, enabling sermons to reach global audiences. Dr. Cairns credited James as essential, saying, “If it hadn’t been [for] brother McClelland, then Let the Bible Speak wouldn’t really have come into existence at all.”
• Technical Expertise: Grahame recalls James’s dedication to upgrading the studio over the years, adding new equipment and working late nights (sometimes until 5 AM) to keep it top-notch. They visited RTÉ Studios in Dublin, which was ahead of the BBC in Belfast in quality at that time, and also visited the BBC in London to learn about advanced setups, ensuring LTBS’s quality.
• Global Reach: By the mid-1980s, LTBS had reached Canada, the United States, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, West Africa, and Australia, drawing many to the Free Presbyterian Church. By 2023, it was on 16 Nepalese stations, supported Word FM in Kathmandu, and expanded to Australia, the Philippines, and Premier Radio in London, with TV (Sky TV) and online platforms by 2025.

1976–2013: Broadcasting 

• Recording Early Preachers: James recorded sermons by early Free Presbyterian preachers like Rev. John Wylie and Dr. Ian Paisley, later transferring them to digital formats to preserve them as tapes deteriorated, ensuring their messages endured.

• Joining BBC Radio Foyle (1979): James appeared as a guest on BBC Radio Foyle  and contributed to programmes on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Ulster for over 30 years.
• Hosting Rejoice (1986–2023): Starting as a pilot in 1986, Rejoice was a weekly live Sunday afternoon broadcast, featuring sacred, gospel, and inspirational music. James’s warm connection with listeners made it a hit, as Larry Deeney noted, calling it a “remarkable achievement.”
• Documentaries: James produced documentaries, starting with a beloved one on Donegal tweed, followed by projects across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Canada (e.g., a Rockies Railroad documentary from Vancouver to Calgary, commissioned by Joe Mahon). Working with producers like Maureen Gallagher and Michael Magowan, he sharpened his skills in script writing, interviewing, and editing, reaching secular audiences while staying true to his faith.

1980s–2000s or Later: Video Production for Christian Music and Documentaries

• Working with Rev. William McCrea: For over 20 years, James recorded and produced Christian music videos for Rev. William McCrea, a Free Presbyterian evangelist and Gospel Singer, and many others. Some of these videos are on James’ and Rev. McCrea’s YouTube channels below
• Christian Documentaries: James created documentaries on the Isle of Lewis revival, W.P. Nicholson, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, Dr. Ian Paisley, and the Free Presbyterian Church’s history, all available on his YouTube channel. These works preserve the church’s legacy and reach a global audience online every day.

Circa 2014: Facing Health Challenges

• Leukemia Diagnosis: At 72, James faced leukemia and underwent chemotherapy, leaning on Psalm 112:7 (“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings”) for peace. His wife, June, and a Charles Spurgeon devotional recommended by Margaret Reed supported him. He recovered, with doctors confirming, “Your bloods are good.”
• Heart Condition: With seven heart stents, James’s emotional openness during his weekly broadcasts made his messages heartfelt, connecting deeply with the listeners.

2023: Celebrating LTBS’s 50th Anniversary

• Sharing Memories: On 22nd September 2023, James attended the LTBS 50th Anniversary Dinner at Belfast’s Martyrs Jubilee Complex. He shared how LTBS evolved from reel-to-reel tape editing to digital tools, inspiring everyone present. His brother, Frank, sent a video from Toronto, recalling the early Cabra studio days, and Joan Cairns, Alan’s wife, joined to honour their shared legacy. James’s words encouraged continued support for LTBS’s mission, including a new studio.

Post-2023: A Lasting Legacy

• Ongoing Impact: James’s influence lives on through LTBS’s global reach, Rejoice’s listeners, his YouTube videos, and the churches he helped build—Sandown, Kilkeel, Londonderry, and Lisbellaw. His life’s work, rooted in his 1960 conversion at Carryduff, shines as a testament to sharing the Gospel with heart and skill.

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Conclusion

James’s life, from his 1960 conversion at Murphy’s Loft in Carryduff to his work through 2023, is a powerful story of faith and service to the Free Presbyterian Church. As Sandown’s first student minister in 1964, he helped lay its foundation, then led Kilkeel (1967–1971) and Londonderry (1971–1983) as a pastor. His ministry in Londonderry, especially during the Altnagelvin church construction, inspired Colin Mercer to join the denomination and subsequently was called into the ministry. As LTBS’s primary sound engineer, James launched weekly reel-to-reel broadcasts for Manx Radio in 1973, transforming the old Cabra FPC into a studio with meticulous care. His 35+ years on LTBS and BBC Radio Foyle live broadcasts on Rejoice (Sunday afternoons) brought the Gospel to countless listeners, while his videos for William McCrea and documentaries on Christian heroes, shared on YouTube, kept the church’s story alive. James was a dedicated preacher and technician whose converts and broadcasts touched lives globally. Even through leukemia and heart challenges, James’s faith stayed strong, inspiring others at the recent 2023 LTBS 50th Anniversary Dinner. His life truly reflects Hebrews 11:38—someone “of whom the world was not worthy.”

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While we have done our best to recount some of the highlights of Rev. McClelland’s life, if there are any exclusions or corrections, please accept our apologies and contact us directly so we can correct or add to this tribute.