While a church spokesman remained tight-lipped about the meeting, one senior member confirmed that it would take place in Dungannon Free Presbyterian Church. A previous meeting scheduled for January 4 was postponed due to bad weather, and some sources had suggested that this would be reconvened at the Church's regular monthly meeting on the first Friday of each month - in this case February 1.

It is understood the Dungannon talks have been arranged to move quickly on the appointment of Mr Paisley's successor.

The meeting will also take place following speculation about Mr Paisley's political future.

His DUP party yesterday denied claims that he was preparing to retire as an MP at the next General Election, fuelling speculation that he could also be planning to retire as party leader and First Minister. The party, however, said the claims were unfounded.

Unlike the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, where the names of candidates are generally known before the election of a Moderator each February, the Free Presbyterians are giving no indication as to who Mr Paisley's successor might be.

It is thought unlikely that Mr Paisley's arch-critic the Rev Ivan Foster will become the new Moderator, but it is believed that the current Deputy Moderator, the Rev Ron Johnston from Armagh, could win overall approval.

Another possible candidate might be the Rev David McIlveen, who is well known to a wider audience partly because of his high media profile. Ballymena Minister John Greer is also being tipped by some as a possible successor.

Mr Paisley - who founded the Church in 1951 - indicated last September that he would stand down in January following mounting concern over his dual role as Moderator and Stormont First Minister. It is thought he stood down to avoid a vote which would reveal divisions in the ranks over his role as Moderator and First Minister. This concern among some members may have been due to the workload facing Mr Paisley, but it may also have reflected concern among others at his decision to share power with Sinn Fein.

But it is also clear Mr Paisley retains significant support from other Free Presbyterians, whatever their misgivings about the power-sharing Assembly.

Senior sources within the Church believe that Mr Paisley will honour his commitment to stand down this month, and the name of a successor is likely to be known sometime this evening.