Learn more about the heart of PCI and who we are as a church community.
Christ at the centre, community at heart
PCI is a community of believers who are grounded in the Scriptures and seek to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit.
PCI is the people.
A people who gather weekly around God’s Word, encouraging one another to grow as faithful disciples of Jesus.
A people who believe in fulfilling God's mission to the world and are committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around us.
It is about shared lives, a place to be valued, known and loved – to belong and not just attend. A gathering of ordinary people with a shared sense of forgiveness and who want to reach out to those in need, just as Jesus did.
What it means to be part of PCI
We are:
A people under Christ’s headship We believe that Jesus Christ is the sole King and Head of the Church.
Led by ministers and members together We are shaped by shared leadership at congregational, regional (Presbytery) and national (General Assembly) levels.
Rooted in Scripture and reformed theology Our teaching, worship and life together are grounded in the Bible.
Supported by trained ministers and leaders Over 300 ministers serve across Ireland, trained through Union Theological College and supported in lifelong ministry.
Active in local mission Every congregation is encouraged and equipped to grow in faith and serve their community.
Committed to global mission We partner with churches and mission workers around the world to share Christ’s love across cultures.
Caring through social witness We provide practical care in Jesus’ name, through nursing, residential and supported housing, day services and more.
Speaking into public life We contribute to key conversations on peace, justice and public policy, offering a biblical voice to society.
PCI's Senior Leadership Team
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has a three-person senior leadership team, which comprises the Clerk, and the Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly, and the new post of Director of Operations. The new structure was agreed by a Special General Assembly held in February 2026.
The Senior Leadership Team - Rev Dr David Allen, Acting Clerk, Rev Peter Gamble, Deputy Clerk, and Director of Operations, Ken Swarbrick - is responsible to the General Assembly through the General Council and is line managed by the Council’s Convener. The General Council acts on behalf of the General Assembly in between its annual meetings - its members are the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, registered with the charity regulators in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The Clerk
The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, has a wide range of responsibilities across the denomination:
Conducts correspondence on behalf of PCI and manages all official records and documents of the Assembly
Acts as Secretary to: The General Council The Council for Public Affairs The Judicial Commission
Is an ex-officio member, alongside the Moderator, of all PCI Councils, committees, and panels
Serves as one of PCI's principal spokespeople
There is no annual election of the role of Clerk as, since the first General Assembly of 1840, the office is considered ad vitam aut culpam – for life or until fault.
Any comments, questions, complaints, or objections relating to the Church should be addressed to the Clerk at: Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW.
Acting Clerk – Rev Dr David Allen
Responsibilities as Clerk have been taken up by Rev Dr David Allen, who was the Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly.
Having been appointed Acting Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland by PCI’s General Council in March 2025, David came into post on 12 May of the same year. The Special Assembly of February 2026 revised the role of Clerk as PCI seeks to appoint a new Clerk of Assembly at the 2026 General Assembly. David will serve the Church as Acting Clerk until 31 August 2026.
David was ordained in 1990 as Assistant Minister of Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church in Belfast (now South Kirk). He was installed as the minister of the four-point cross-border charge of Clones, Stonebridge, Ballyhobridge and Newbliss in April 1992, and subsequently called to Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church, near Coleraine in 2001.
He remained there in parish ministry for a further 14 years, prior to being appointed Dean of Ministerial Studies at PCI’s Union Theological College in 2015. In October 2020 he became Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly.
Deputy Clerk - Rev Peter Gamble
Having been appointed by the General Council, Rev Peter Gamble, minister of The Mall Presbyterian Church in Armagh, began his new role as Deputy Clerk 19 May 2025. Peter is also Secretary to the Council for Training in Ministry and Linkage Commission.
From 1990 to 1993 he studied for PCI’s ordained ministry at UTC, and was ordained Assistant Minister in West Kirk, Belfast, in 1994. Five years later Peter was installed in the three-point charge of Clarksbridge, Garmany’s Grove and McKelvey’s Grove Presbyterian Churches. He served them until 2005, when he was called to be minster of The Mall.
Peter was the last clerk of the old Synod of Down and Armagh, serving from 2000 to 2007, and was Clerk of the Presbytery of Armagh for 10 years from 2014.
Director of Operations - Ken Swarbrick
The Director of Operations is responsible for the operational side of the running of the charity. Ken Swarbrick was appointed to this new role in March 2026, having been PCI’s Financial Secretary since September 2023.
Ken is a Chartered Accountant by profession but is also a qualified project manager and has a Master’s Degree in HR Strategy, so brings a blend of skills to the role. Prior to joining PCI, he had worked in HM Revenue & Customs for almost 24 years, in a variety of roles but most recently as Head of Emerging Technology. Alongside the ‘day job’, over the years, Ken has worked with a team which supported international development and delivered national projects for the governments of Malawi, Ethiopia and Ghana.
In 1997 Ken was ordained as an elder in Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church and has worshipped in the Newtownabbey church all his life.
The Moderator
The Moderator of the General Assembly
On the first Tuesday in February each year, the Church's 19 regional presbyteries, meeting separately across Ireland, consider the ministers who have agreed to have their names go forward for PCI's highest office.
Having selected the Moderator-Designated, they are formally elected in June by the General Assembly and installed during a special Service of Installation, becoming the all-Ireland denomination's senior office bearer and principal public representative. The Moderator will then chair and oversee the General Assembly’s remaining debates.
