Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Clerical Manoeuvres
During this month the announcement of a number of ministerial changes will contribute to the ever changing parochial landscape – fresh faces in new places.
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, has instituted the Revd David Moses as Rector of the Grouped Parishes of Keady, Armaghbreague, Derrynoose & Newtownhamilton. The institution took place in Newtownhamilton parish church earlier this month when the preacher was the Rt Revd Ferran Glenfield, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh. Mr Moses, who was ordained in 2017, has been Bishop’s Curate in Drumgoon in the Diocese of Kilmore since 2018. A video of the Institution Service is available at https://vimeo.com/588641960
The Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Rt Revd David McClay, has recently announced two parochial appointments.
The Revd Myrtle Morrison is to be the new Incumbent of the parish of Newcastle in the Diocese of Dromore She is currently Priest in Charge of St Saviour’s, Craigavon, where she has served since December 2000, initially as Evangelist in Charge. Ms Morrison joined Church Army in the mid–eighties and was ordained in the Church of Ireland in 2017. In Newcastle she will succeed the Revd Dr Ian Ellis, a former influential editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette, who has retired from the stipendiary ministry.
The Revd Lucy Burden has been appointed as Bishop’s Curate for Mount Merrion parish in the Diocese of Down. She is currently Curate Assistant in St Mark’s, Portadown, but is no stranger to Mount Merrion having served there in her deacon intern year following ordination in 2016. Ms Burden succeeds the Revd Adrian Green who is now Chaplain to the English speaking church in Ibiza & Formentara in the Diocese of Europe.
Both services of institution will take place on dates to be announced.
Bishop McClay has also appointed Matthew Gault to pioneer a new outreach project in the Tullycarnet estate in East Belfast. Tullycarnet is situated mostly in the Parish of Stormont and the project will seek to meet the needs of people of all ages living in the estate. He will work closely with the Rector of St Molua’s, Stormont, the Revd Emma Rutherford. He takes up this new role on 1 September. Mr Gault studied Theology at Union Theological College in Belfast and then completed a Masters there. Since then he has spent a few years working in Bangor parish church as the Operations and Missions Co–ordinator and most recently working for Lowe Memorial Presbyterian church in Finaghy as an Evangelism Associate involved in Alpha, CAP and Young Adults’ ministries.
One post which is yet to be filled is that of Director of Music in St Bartholomew’s church, Dublin. The parish has a long tradition of music performed to an extremely high standard and its choirs have released commercial–quality recordings, toured both nationally and internationally, and appeared on national television. They have also published a CD of organ music, and have built up a substantial following on YouTube.
The Select Vestry is seeking to appoint a Director of Music, at €22,500 per annum, who will work with the assistant organist and vocal coach to develop and maintain the boys’ choir, girls’ choir, and chamber choir. For further details and an application pack, please contact Ms Megan MacCausland by telephone (01–6688522), by email (admin@stbartholomews.ie) or by post to St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Applications must be received by 13 September. and interviews will be held in the last week of September.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times