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New rector for Stormont Parish

People’s warden Audrey Healey, the Revd Emma Rutherford and rector’s warden Ian Johnston.
People’s warden Audrey Healey, the Revd Emma Rutherford and rector’s warden Ian Johnston.

Bishop Harold has instituted Revd Emma Rutherford as rector of Stormont in Down Diocese. Emma is only the third rector in the parish’s 55–year history and the first woman to be appointed. The service took place on Monday 18 September 2017 in the striking St Molua’s Church.

Emma Rutherford

Emma is no stranger to Down and Dromore, nor to East Belfast having been employed for four years as the family and children’s worker in Knocknagoney Parish.

Her employment background was in textiles, home furnishings and interior design.  However some years ago she felt God was calling her to other forms of ministry outside her local church.

The call to Knocknagoney became a call to ordination and Emma began her training in Dublin in 2009.

She served all of her placements in Down and Dromore and was ordained in 2011 to serve as deacon intern in St Jude’s, Ballynafeigh, before moving on to serve her curacy in the Diocese of Connor.

Most recently Emma was serving in the Diocese of Connor as Diocesan Curate with special responsibility for Glencairn and Whiterock parishes in North Belfast. She loved her time with those two churches, and will miss the people very much, but senses a strong call to Stormont.

The preacher for the service was Revd Canon Norman Jardine, former Rector of St Jude’s. Emma first met Norman when exploring that initial call back in 2005 when she joined the fellowship of vocation and undertook the Network course which he led. She was then fortunate to be placed with him as her training Rector during her deacon intern year.

Emma is married to Graham and they have a teenage son, William.

Speaking of the family’s new adventure, Emma said: “We are so grateful for the dedicated Christian witness of the faithful people of Stormont parish over the years, and feel incredibly blessed to have been appointed. We look forward with excitement to this new stage of our journey as we walk together with the folks of St Molua’s, and eagerly await what God has in store. We would appreciate your prayers, thank you.”

 

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