Home

Church of Ireland Home

Diocesan News

Institution of new rector in Kilroot and Templecorran

The Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick was instituted as rector of the Grouped Parishes of Kilroot and Templecorran at a service in St Colman’s Parish Church, Carrickfergus, on Wednesday September 4.

Nigel, 50, is married to Cristina. He was previously rector of St Dorothea’s Parish, Gilnahirk, Diocese of Down and Dromore.

He grew up in Belleek, Co Fermanagh, and moved to Belfast to work as a volunteer with the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe which organised and facilitated international youth conferences and workshops.

From left: Councillor Maureen Morrow, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; the Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick; and Bishop's Commissary, the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast.
From left: Councillor Maureen Morrow, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; the Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick; and Bishop's Commissary, the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast.

Nigel was appointed an intern to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Youth Department and took part in a nine–month study tour of Asia, looking at the situation of Christian minorities, and finishing at the WCC Youth Convention in Canberra, Australia, in 1991.

When he returned to Belfast, Nigel became a founder member of the Solas Community of Reconciliation, based on the ‘peaceline’ in north Belfast. He continued to do cross community work, before taking up a post of a hostel supervisor with the Grampian Adolescent Project.

Eighteen months later he followed the calling he had had from his student days, and went to Theological College in Dublin to train for the ministry.

In 1996 Nigel was ordained for St Columba’s, Portadown, where he was a curate for three years, before taking a second curacy with the Lecale Group which included Down Cathedral.

In 2001 Nigel was appointed rector of Killinchy and Kilmood Union of Parishes, moving to St Dorothea’s in 2007.  He was appointed a Minor Canon of Belfast Cathedral in 2014.

Nigel was instituted rector of Kilroot and Templecorran by the Bishop of Connor’s Commissary, the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast, as Bishop Alan Abernethy is currently on sick leave.

 

Our use of cookies

Some cookies are necessary for us to manage how our website behaves while other optional, or non-necessary, cookies help us to analyse website usage. You can Accept All or Reject All optional cookies or control individual cookie types below.

You can read more in our Cookie Notice

Functional

These cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics cookies

Analytical cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.