The Archbishop of Armagh pays tribute to Nelson Mandela

From The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland:

‘The death of Nelson Mandela marks the end of an era. He represented for all of us a new beginning for all the people of South Africa.

‘His powerful faith in a better future for all sustained his country through the birth pangs of creating a new and finer society.

‘I join with so many others in remembering the people of South Africa in my thoughts and prayers at this time.’

+Richard Armagh

St Mark’s Armagh – Vacancy

For full details please click here

Bishop’s Appeal – Advent and Christmas Giving

Please click here for more information from the Bishop’s Appeal

Archbishop of Hong Kong Visits Armagh

Archbishop of Hong Kong The Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong

The Archbishop of Hong Kong came to Northern Ireland, along with the Dean of Hong Kong, the Very Revd Matthias Der, as part of an official visit to the Church of Ireland this week. Full report click here.

Diocesan Synod 2013

Archbishop Clarke

Archbishop Clarke gave his first Presidential Address since becoming Archbishop last year to the Diocesan Synod on Tuesday 15th
October.  He spoke of how “As Christians we need to be aware of what should be the most important aspects of what we are, and what we most clearly are, to ourselves and to others … and to God.”

For the full transcript please click here.

Canon Robert Boyd, Archbishop Clarke, Canon Norman Porteous

Two New Canons for St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh

Sunday 6th October saw some changes to the Chapter of St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh.  Following the retirement of the Rev

Canon John McKegney Canon Norman Porteous was installed as Treasurer and Rev Robert Boyd, Rector of Killyman, was installed to the Prebendary of Ballymore.

Institution of New Rector in Mullavilly

Friday 20th September saw the institution of a new rector for the paris of Mullavilly.  The Rev Elizabeth Cairns was formerly a Vicar in the parish of St Columba, Portadown when she was primarialy responsible for outreach.  Elizabeth was a former Church Army Evangelist before being ordained.

The service was attended by a large number of parishioners from Mullavilly and St Columba’s as well as her home parish of Milltown.

Ordination of Intern Deacon

L to R Archdeacon Hoey, Rev Geoffrey Haugh, Archbishop Clarke, Rev Shane Forster, Rector of Ballymore, Very Rev Gregory Dunstan, Dean of Armagh.

Ballymore Parish Church, Tandragee was the location of the ordination of Geoffrey Haugh as an Intern Deacon on Sunday 1st September.  Rev Haugh is a parishioner from Milltown Parish, Diocese of Armagh and will serve his ‘Intern Year’ in Ballymore Parish under the supervision of the Rev Shane Forster, Rector of Ballymore.

Rev Haugh is married to Karen and they have four daughters; Laura, Judith, Rebekah and Melissa.  He worked formerly in the agricultural sector in the sale and distribution of animal medicine and nutrition.  As part of his studies Geoffrey will undertake a research project on the subject of “The clergy and how they deal with the issue of suicide.”

Institution Rev David Somerville

L to R Very Rev Gregory Dunstan, Dean of Armagh, Archbishop Clarke, Rev David Somerville, Rev Grace Clunie, Chaplain to Archbishop, Rev Shane Forster, Assistant Diocesan Registrar

The Reverend David Somerville was instituted as rector of the parish of Richhill on Thursday 29th August at a service in the parish church, St Matthews. The Rev Somerville was supported by a good turn out of family, friends, parishioners from his previous parish of Drumgath (Dromore) . Archbishop Clarke performed the institution and the preacher was the Rev William Nixon rector of Drumbeg (Down) a friend of the Rev Somerville.

Institution Rev Matthew Hagan

The Reverend Matthew Hagan was instituted as rector of the grouped parishes of Tynan, Aghavilly, and Middletown on Thursday 20th June 2013.  Matthew has been serving in the group as Priest-in-charge, then Bishop’s Curate.  Archbishop Clarke performed the institution and the sermon was preached by Canon John McKegney, Rural Dean and now former rector of St Mark’s Armagh.

Institution Rev Ian Cruikshank

The Reverend Ian Cruikshank was instituted as the rector of the grouped parishes of Errigal Keerogue, Ballygawley and Killeshill at aservice on Tuesday 7th May 2013.  The service was held in Errigal Keerogue church and Archbishop Clarke performed the institution. Ian was previously rector of Kilcooley Parish, Diocese of Cashel.  We take this opportunity to welcome Ian and his family into the Diocese of Armagh.

New Mothers Union Diocesan President Mrs Iris Suitor

Mothers’ Union Diocesan President Commissioned

Mrs Iris Suitor,Drumglass Parish Dungannon was commissioned as the new MU Diocesan President for Armagh at a service in Armagh Cathedral on Wednesday 15th May 2013.

A large number of MU members from across the diocese were present.  The act of commissioning was carried out my the Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Reverend Richard Clarke who also gave the address.

Follow this link to the Mothers’ Union page.

Archbishop Clarke’s Christmas Message

For the Christmas message please click here.

Enthronement of New Archbishop

The service of Enthronement for the new Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, took place at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, Saturday 15 December 2012 at 3.00pm. The service was one of Choral Evensong and the address was given by the new Archbishop after his enthronement.

In his address, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke called on Christians to model ‘the courtesy of God’.

He said: ‘We live in a culture within which anger rather than courtesy is the most prevalent behavioural pattern … True courtesy is the converse of spiteful anger. And courtesy is not simply good manners but … means generously going further than we actually have to go, in our service of another individual.’

The new Archbishop continued by stating, ‘The God we worship is a God of beauty and of truth, and our language and our actions are to mirror this. If, as St Augustine tells us, the weak are to be cared for, the faint-hearted comforted, the uneducated taught, the sluggish awakened and the good encouraged; if the agitators are to be rebuked, the conceited put in their place, the quarrelsome held back, and evil people to be endured, and all of them to be loved, it can only be when we hold – before our eyes and in our hearts – the image of Jesus Christ who calls us to be his co-workers together in his service, and in serving his world. And it can also only be, when we have learnt to model – in all that we say and do – the courtesy of God.’

For full transcript of the Archbishop’s address please click here.

For more photographs of the Enthronement please follow this link.