Looking back on a successful career in politics and music
REV William McCrea is a politician and member of the DUP. He was born in 1948 in Stewartstown, Co Tyrone, and brought up in a farming background. He was educated at Cookstown Grammar School and Marietta Bible College, Ohio, USA. He has been a member of Magherafelt District Council since its creation in 1973.
He was MP for Mid Ulster from 1983 but lost this seat to Sinn Fein chief negotiator and current Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at the 1997 election.
In 2000 he took South Antrim at a by-election caused by the death of Ulster Unionist Party MP, Clifford Forsythe, but failed to retain this seat at the 2001 election.
In the 2005 election he regained the seat. From 1998 to 2007 he was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid Ulster.
At the 2007 election, he was elected as Assembly Member for South Antrim. He is also the minister of Magherafelt Free Presbyterian Church and has made numerous gospel albums.
Rev McCrea lives in Magherafelt. He is married with two sons and three daughters.
What is your earliest memory of childhood, and what sort of childhood did you have?
I was the youngest of five children. We were brought up in a Presbyterian home where God's word was honoured and the Lord's Day was respected. I remember the five of us, who were all born within a space of five years, running about the house. My father believed in hard work and that a family should have instilled into them the value of honest hard work. I had one brother and three sisters, and I thank God for loving parents and a happy home and childhood.
What school subjects were you top and bottom of the class in?
I was good at maths and English and loathed chemistry and physics.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Interestingly, I suppose two things were in my mind. First of all, I became a Christian when I was eight at a gospel mission in Dungannon and I had an earnest desire as a child to tell others, so I wanted to be a minister, to spread the good news of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
I remember an occasion when my mother had showed me my chemistry book from when I was a schoolboy of about 12. Written on the front of the book was "Robert Thomas William McCrea – MP for Stewartstown". So I suppose I had the political bug by then too! I did my music lessons in George Forrest's house, he was our local MP and subsequently I did end up being the MP for Stewartstown for some 14-and-a-half years. So I fulfilled both my childhood ambitions!
When did you become interested in politics?
From a very early age indeed. In high school there was a debating society and I took part in the society and had a keen interest even from then. As you would expect, I always argued from a strongly Unionist perspective!
What have been the highs and lows of your political career?
There have been many high points, and just a few lows. One high point had to be the 1983 election in Mid Ulster. I had topped the poll in the 1982 Assembly election and John Dunlop, who was the Westminster MP, wrote to me to say that the mantle of Unionist leadership in Mid Ulster had fallen on me. It was a real tight result and I defeated Danny Morrison of Sinn Fein by 78 votes. There was naturally a call for a recount. The tellers found eight Morrison votes in my pile and eight of mine in his. So the result remained unchanged. Winning the by-election in South Antrim was an enormous high point. It represented a turning point for the DUP. At the time I said: "South Antrim tonight; East Londonderry, North Belfast, Strangford tomorrow", and so it proved to be. Since then we have added Upper Bann, East Antrim and Lagan Valley!
Losing Mid Ulster in 1997 was a disappointment rather than a low point. The new boundaries had meant that defending the seat would have been very difficult. I could have run in West Tyrone, which was half of the old Mid Ulster seat, but I chose to stand and fight. Losing out in 2001 in South Antrim was a low point, but I picked myself up, dusted myself down and fought on to win the seat back in 2005 with a 3,500 majority. I am grateful to the people of South Antrim for putting their faith and trust in me.
Why did you decide to enter the church ministry?
Because of my personal faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I wanted to share that faith with others. It was a natural progression. I was a Sunday School teacher, I was involved in handing out gospel tracts and open air meetings. I wanted to be a preacher to share the message of salvation. I remember, as a young cub, preaching to the cows as I was taking them out of the field! This June I will have been a minister for 40 years, preaching at Magherafelt.
Is it difficult to be a Christian in the modern world?
It is difficult to take a stand for Jesus because there are many pressures, but whilst there may be difficulties, the Bible says His grace is sufficient for you. I believe that if you honour the Lord He will honour you.
Why is gospel music so important to you?
I started to sing before I became a Christian. At eight, when I became a Christian, I wanted to sing for the Lord and praise Him, but that was not the first time I sang in a church environment. I remember being stood on a wee stool in Brigh Presbyterian Church when I was three or four to sing during the service.
It is important to me because it is an extension of my preaching ministry, singing is a good means of communicating the gospel. In my life, through all the years of the Troubles, I have received letters from all over the world to say my music has touched hearts and changed lives. By the Grace of God, I'll keep on singing.
Which other recording artists do you admire?
The very first one was Jim Reeves. His gospel singing was very moving. Jimmie Davis, who was twice Governor of Louisiana, sang till he was into his 90s. As long as the message is sound and singing is sweet, I find a blessing in it.
Do you enjoy live performance?
Not until I get onto the stage. I get nervous, going into the pulpit and on to the stage to sing. Over-confidence in yourself can be dangerous and lead to embarrassment. I am not the best singer but God has given me a message to sing.
Do you like any pop musicians?
No. I haven't listened to pop music since I was a teenager. What I cannot stand is the modern "thud, thud, thud", you cannot hear a word!
If you had to pick either politics or music, what would it be?
First and foremost I am a preacher. Having a preacher's heart is useful in politics. This is a genuine heart that is open to listen to people to show not only that God cares but that I do also and want to help them with whatever problem they come to me about.
What prompted you to write In His Pathway?
A number of people asked me to write concerning my life experiences. Life is a great school, it teaches us lessons we could never learn in books. It is good to share the experiences that God brings you through, to show others that God can bring them through and encourage their hearts.
Favourite book and why?
The Bible: it is a word from God. It tells me how it all began and how it all will end. I have read the end of the book, I'm through Christ. We win!
First record?
God Be with You by Jim Reeves
Best and worst holidays ever?
The best holidays are family holidays spent with the children. I remember that until one Friday afternoon, when I was called to a police station and a superintendent told me I was to be murdered that weekend, I had never taken a holiday. It was then that I thought seriously and worried – would my wife and family say "daddy gave all his time to others but none to us". I vowed then that I would always have time apart for my wife and children.
The worst holiday time was in 1994, when the night before my holiday the IRA tried to kill me and my family. They shot up our home and fired at my daughter, but God spared us.
When were you happiest?
I'm always happy! Very contented and know that God is on the throne. No matter what man can say or do no-one can separate me from the love of God.
And saddest?
I suppose the saddest moments are when your mother and father pass away, my brother died suddenly a year ago. The saddest occasion I can recall was the night my two cousins were murdered and I had to attend the mortuary to identify their remains. I had to sit down and explain why two children had been taken in such a way. I will never, ever forget it.
Pet hates?
Seeing something that needs done and not being able to do it. Worse still, having to watch other people looking at work that they know needs done and not getting up and getting on with it.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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