Diocesan News
Appointment to Willowfield
The Diocese of Down and Dromore is delighted to announce that Revd Canon Clive Atkinson has been appointed incumbent of Willowfield Parish in East Belfast. Clive and his wife Yvonne have spent the last 18 years in Switzerland where Clive has pastored three Anglican churches.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Clive spent the majority of his childhood in Lisburn, attending Wallace High School. Faithful parents, loving youth leaders and Christian friends all played their part in Clive coming to a living faith as a 15–year old. He describes how, for no apparent reason, he began to read a Gideon pocket Bible given to him at school. The more he read the more he wanted to read and soon the Jesus of the scriptures became a living reality to him.
Yvonne was born in Oxford but grew up in Coleraine. Her family were committed members of St Patrick’s Coleraine where she came to faith as a young girl and has never looked back.
Clive and Yvonne met at the Church of Ireland Chaplaincy at Queen’s University where Yvonne was working. Clive saw her for the first time across a crowded church and decided this was the girl for him. It took Yvonne at least three years to come to the same conclusion. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2020. They have two adult children, Jacob and Rebekah.
Clive was ordained in 1990 and served as curate in North Belfast with Holy Trinity Joanmount and Emmanuel, Ardoyne. His first incumbency was in West Belfast, with St John the Baptist, Suffolk Estate, before moving to Switzerland.
Reflecting on what makes him tick, Clive says, “I love the challenge of taking the Apostolic Faith which has been handed down to us by generation of believers, and seeing that come alive in our contemporary world. I am convinced that we have a story that has the power not only to transform individual people but entire communities. I love the thought of being part of a Church family that is devoted to the Lord Jesus and who will allow the Lord to shape every aspect of their lives. And all of this done, rooted in the Father’s endless love and grace and empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit.”
The service of institution will take place after Easter 2021 on a date to be announced.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Down & Dromore
07840 006899
Mrs Annette McGrath
dco@downdromorediocese.org