Northern Ireland

Armagh clergyman behind movement aimed at rescuing alcoholics honoured with blue plaque

Rev Robert James Patterson was remembered for establishing the 'Catch-My-Pal' Temperance Association
Rev Robert James Patterson was remembered for establishing the 'Catch-My-Pal' Temperance Association Rev Robert James Patterson was remembered for establishing the 'Catch-My-Pal' Temperance Association

AN Armagh clergyman behind a movement aimed at rescuing alcoholics has been honoured with an Ulster History Circle blue plaque.

Rev Robert James Patterson, known as RJ, was remembered for establishing the 'Catch-My-Pal' Temperance Association to save the lives of men and women - no matter what their religion - who were drinking themselves into early graves.

Ordained at The Mall Presbyterian Church, Armagh in 1892, he later served as minister there where he was determined to help those who drank heavily.

It was in 1909 during his ministry in Armagh that as he walked through the streets, he saw six drunken men standing at a lamp-post in one of the main streets in Armagh.

One of the men joked was he not going to get them to sign the pledge.

Rev Patterson asked them to think about abstaining from drinking and within the week, they signed the pledge in one another’s presence, so that if one was inclined to drink alcohol again, the others would help him to resist temptation.

The men brought their heavy drinking friends, who also signed the pledge and as the numbers grew, the Armagh Protestant Total Abstinence Union was formed, which later changed to 'Catch-my-Pal'.

By 1910, around 130,000 people had enrolled in the movement and branches opened all over the north with Rev Patterson becoming a household name.

He resigned from the Mall Presbyterian Church in August 1910 to continue his work with Catch-My-Pal across the world, opening clubs in England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

He held the post of secretary of the Protestant Total Abstinence Society until 1919.

His work was remembered in Armagh yesterday as a blue plaque to unveiled in his honour outside The Mall Church by the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rt Rev Dr William Henry.

Dr Myrtle Hill from the Ulster History Circle said: "The Catch-My-Pal movement founded by Robert J. Patterson had an important impact on both individuals and the wider community, offering support and leisure activities to those willing to take a pledge of total abstinence.

"The Ulster History Circle is delighted to pay tribute to Armagh’s 'good Samaritan'."