Roland's roots are near the village of Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone. He was educated at Lisnagleer Primary School and the Royal School, Dungannon and taught for 5 years in various schools in Tyrone before training for the ministry at Union Theological College, Belfast. From September 2012, Roland was assistant minister at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Belfast, before his installation as minister of Killymurris in May 2016.