Member profile: Mavis
Killinchy Presbyterian Church has been a big part of my life. In fact my family connection with KPC goes back as far as the late 1800’s. My father, John Russell, together with his five brothers and sisters were brought up in the church and in the Killinchy area. He was born in 1902 and was blind almost from birth. When he was old enough he was sent to a special school in Belfast for children with hearing and sight loss. It was there that his talent for music was recognised and encouraged. His special interest in organ and piano eventually led to him becoming a music teacher, and many people in the area still give testimony to his skill and patience as they took weekly piano lessons.
When Killinchy Presbyterian Church acquired an organ for the first time in 1928 my father became the organist and he served the church in this capacity for 43 years until he retired in 1971. He did not play by ear and so he had to learn and memorise the hymn tunes, ably assisted by my mother who read aloud all the notes of new hymns and anthems in preparation for Sunday services. Prior to the introduction of the organ the singing was led by a ‘preceptor’, namely a Mr Whitten who was the Headmaster of Lisbarnett Primary School. Having a blind parent was not something that I gave much thought to as a child as it was normal life within our home.
When I was 10 years old the arrival of my sister Meta completed our family unit. Meta was blessed to inherit our father’s musical talents. Growing up at Ballymartin and attending Ardmillan Primary School provided an idyllic childhood. I walked to school across the fields when the weather allowed and relished the pace of country school life. I enjoyed school and I hope it could be said that I was an attentive student. It was certainly a proud moment for me and my parents when I moved from primary school to continue my education at Bloomfield Grammar School in East Belfast. I owe a lot to my parents who greatly encouraged and supported me to do well.
At a very young age I became involved with church life, attending Sunday School from around five years old and joining the Girls’ Brigade two years later. I became a communicant member of the church when I was 15, challenged by the teaching of Rev Cooper, and my faith grew deeper and stronger under Dr Patterson’s ministry. I firmly believe that the Christian teaching and discipline of both Sunday School and GB played a big part in shaping my life. I have been grateful for the opportunities to serve God in various roles in the church, as Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Church Committee, an Elder, and as Clerk of Session for three years from 2006 to 2009. The enjoyment and pleasure I got from the pastoral visitation element of the work and the camaraderie with the women of the congregation as part of the catering team has been special to me. It has been a real joy and an honour to have shared in the work of the church with so many others over the years.
After completing my education a 40-year career in the Northern Ireland Civil Service awaited me and I was surprised, humbled and felt privileged to be granted an MBE in The Queen’s New Year Honours List in 1997 in recognition of my service. A visit to Buckingham Palace to receive my award from the Queen in my formal name, Mary Adams Russell, is a very special memory. (I still don’t know where ‘Mavis’ came from!)
Life has been good to me and I have had opportunities to travel widely throughout Europe and further afield, including New Zealand, and I thank God for His faithfulness to me in the good times that life has given and throughout periods of illness. The nearness of God’s presence sustains me on a daily basis.