A crowd of 2,500 people attended a farewell service at the Martyrs Memorial Church to mark the retirement of 85-year-old Rev Ian Paisley in Belfast tonight.
Mr Paisley founded the Free Presbyterian Church in 1951 and was pastor at the Martyrs Memorial Church and church moderator for more than 50 years.
The guests at tonight's event included Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen, their five children, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
As a politician, Mr Paisley was one of the most influential and controversial figures in the recent history of Northern Ireland.
His decision to lead the DUP, the party he founded, into a power-sharing administration with Sinn Féin was one of the most significant developments in the peace process.
He retired as DUP leader in 2008 and was succeeded by Peter Robinson, Northern Ireland's current first minister.
