The History of Ballyhagan and Richhill Meetings
1654-1793-2004

THE AUTHOR

George R. Chapman was born in 1901 of Quaker parents and thus became a member of what was then Richhill Monthly Meeting. He spent some years as a boarder at Friends' School Lisburn, and has retained an active interest in the School.

In 1926 he married Annie McDonagh, daughter of Thomas William and Madeline McDonagh in Richhill Meeting House.

Portadown Meeting now benefits from his membership but he still returns to worship on occasions in Richhill, when his presence and ministry is much appreciated.

As an Elder of Ulster Quarterly Meeting our Friend has served the Society in almost every capacity, having been Secretary of the Ulster Quarterly Meeting Home Mission Committee and for a period was Clerk of Grange and Richhill Monthly Meeting. Perhaps one of the highlights of his life occurred in 1952 when he represented Irish Friends in a party of Friends from London Yearly Meeting, who presented a Loyal Address to Queen Elizabeth 11 at Buckingham Palace on her accession to the Throne. He was Clerk to Ireland Yearly Meeting during the years 1953 - 1956.

Perhaps George Chapman's most absorbing interest is in historical matters and his retirement as a Director in a firm of Furniture Manufacturers in 1971 allowed him greater opportunity to research into Friends and also into local affairs. He is a member of Ireland Yearly Meeting Historical Committee and Ulster Quarterly Meeting Librarian. He is currently active on the Committee of Craigavon Historical Society having been its chairman from 1974 to 1976.

Prior to this publication our Friend compiled histories of Grange and Moyallon Meetings and has assisted with his advice on other occasions. This history of Ballyhagan and Richhill is, however, a work of dedication and love and will not only be of local interest to Richhill Friends but will be an important commentary of general value.

A. H. P.