Meet Our Pastor

Cliff Acklam was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.  From 1990 to 1995 he studied at St. Andrews University in Divinity for his Bachelor’s degree and Edinburgh University for his Master of Theology in Ministry and Christian Ethics.

Ordained in Falkirk Old & St. Modan’s Parish Church in 1997, Cliff served in the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department in the British Army where he was attached to the 1st  Battalion of the Royal Scots. In 2000, he returned to Scotland to serve in parish ministry, first in Avonbridge linked with Torphichen in the Presbytery of West Lothian for ten years until 2010. Then it was off to the West Highlands of Scotland where he served in the parishes of Glassary, Kilmartin and Ford linked with North Knapdale until 2018.

During this time, he met and married Maxine who was living in New Jersey. They subsequently moved to Orange County, NY where Cliff served as an Interim Pastor with the PC(USA) in Middletown.

Finally, Cliff and Maxine and their four children moved back to New Jersey where he is the Pastor at United Presbyterian Church, Flanders in the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey. His hobbies include walking his dog, trying to keep fit, relaxing at home and enjoying nature, wildlife and caring for God’s Creation.