Latest News

Institution of Rector – Brackaville, Donaghendry and Ballyclog

The Rev Andrew Rawding was instituted as rector of the grouped parishes of Brackaville, Donaghendry and Ballyclog by the Archbishop at a service in Holy Trinity, Coalisland on Tuesday 6th December 2011.

The Rev Canon John McKegney, rector of St Mark’s Armagh, preached at the service and described Andrew as a gifted preacher and a man who came with a wealth of experience.

The Rev Rawding had worked for a number of years with the Crossfire Trust to bring peace and reconciliation to a divided community.

Installation of Canon Gregory Dunstan as New Dean of Armagh, Sunday 4 December 2011

Canon Gregory Dunstan was installed as the next Dean of Armagh at a service of Evensong in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh on Sunday 4 December 2011 at 3.15pm. The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, presided at the service and the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, gave the address. The new Dean succeeded the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, who is now Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. Canon Dunstan was rector of St Matthew’s, Shankill, Belfast from 1993 to earlier this year and was elected to the chapter canonry of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin in 2007. He has been chairman of the Down and Dromore & Connor Organ Scholarship Management Board since 2005. On his appointment by the Archbishop of Armagh as Dean of Armagh in September this year, Canon Dunstan said: ‘As one of the historic centres of Christianity in Ireland, Armagh has enormous resonance for people throughout the island. I look forward to ministry with the whole Cathedral community in Armagh, to the developing partnership with the Catholic Cathedral, and to the contribution both cathedrals make to the life of the city.’ In his address on Sunday, Bishop Abernethy  commended the new Dean by saying: ‘Gregory is a holy man with a pastoral heart.’ Focusing on the Advent season, he went on to say, ‘Advent allows us to focus on how while God can be way beyond our understanding yet we receive His presence among us, at the same time distant yet so close.’

Ordination and Consecration of the Very Reverend Patrick W Rooke as Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

On Thursday 8th September 2011 the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh was Ordained as the new Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.

The Ordination and Consecration was performed by The Most Reverend Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan.

Patrick William Booke, was ordained by Bishop Arthur Butler for the curacy of Mossley Parish in 1978.  Three years later he moved to Portrush to undertake a second curacy in Ballywillan Parish.  His first incumbency was in the grouped parishes of Craigs, Dunaghy and Killagan in Mid-Antrim.  In 1988 he moved from Connor to Armagh Diocese to serve in the Parish of Ballymore, Tandragee, before returning to Connor Diocese in 1994 as Rector of Agherton Parish, Portstewart.  In 2001 he was appointed a Canon of Lisburn Cathedral and Archdeacon of Dalriada in 2005.  Once more the Rooke family moved to Armagh Diocese in 2006 when the newly appointed Dean took up his duties at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

As a diocese we wish Bishop Rooke, and his family, God’s richest blessing as they continue to serve him in this new sphere of ministry.

Click here for more photographs of the Ordination Service.

Statement of Archbishop Michael Neary, Catholic Archbishop of Tuam on the Ordination of Dean Patrick Rooke as Church of Ireland Bishop of the united dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

I warmly welcome the Ordination today of the Right Rev Patrick Rooke, Dean of Armagh as the new Church of Ireland Bishop of the united dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.  Having spent the last 33 years working in the North of Ireland I am glad that he will get a chance to minister in the West of Ireland where he has maternal and family roots.  His sister Mrs Brigid Clesham, who lives in Cong is a well know historian in the West of Ireland and has done some excellent work in the past few years on the Tuam diocesan archives.

Having had an excellent working relationship with the recently retired Bishop Henderson – I very much look forward to that cordial friendship with the Church of Ireland continuing and to working in close collaboration with Dean Rooke in the future.

Congratulations, best wishes and every grace and blessing to Bishop Rooke, to his wife Alison and his children Emily, Nicholas and Susana for many happy years of fruitful ministry in the Western dioceses.

+ Michael Neary

Archbishop of Tuam

Appointment to Clonfeacle, Derrygortreavy and Eglish

Revd J McLoughlin has been appointed Rector of the grouped parishes of Clonfeacle Derrygortreavy and Eglish.
The Rev McLoughlin is presently Curate Assistant in St Mark’s, Armagh.

The institution will take place on Thursday 8th December 2011 at 8.00 pm in Drumsallen Church, Armagh.

Appointment to Grouped Parishes of Brackaville, Donaghendry and Ballyclog

Revd Andrew Rawding has been appointed Rector of the grouped parishes of Brackaville, Donaghendry and Ballyclog.

The institution will take place on Tuesday 6th December 2011 at 7.30 pm in Holy Trinity, Brachaville. (Coalisland)

ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD

Prior to ordination, Elizabeth Stevenson was a lifelong member of Milltown

Parish at The Birches, on the shores of Lough Neagh.  She took a very active part in Parish life having been a Choir Member, Sunday School Teacher, Select Vestry Member, Churchwarden, Junior Choir Leader, House Group Leader and Tennis Club Secretary.  Elizabeth was also a Lay Member of the General Synod.

Having taken early retirement, after teaching for 30 years in King’s Park Primary School, Lurgan, Elizabeth trained as a Diocesan Lay Reader and was commissioned by Archbishop Eames in November 2004.  She served in parishes throughout Armagh Diocese.  Among her other interests are Guiding, music, flower arranging, walking and travelling.

Having completed her training for ordination, Elizabeth was made a deacon in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 27th June last year.  Since then she has served in the Parish of Drumglass, Dungannon under the watchful eye of the Rector, the Reverend Andrew Forster.

LAUNCH OF ‘BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER COMMENTARIES’

At the meeting of General Synod which met in Armagh City Hotel from the 12th to 14th May 2011 the Revd Canon Dr Michael Kennedy, rector of Lisnadill and Kildarton parishes, Diocese of Armagh, launched a new ‘online publication’ entitled ‘Book of Common Prayer 2004 Commentaries’.

In his forward to the BCP 2004 Commentaries Revd Canon Brian Mayne says, “This commentary is an amazing piece of work and I can confidently say that nothing comparable has ever been produced for a Church of Ireland liturgy in the past. Nothing so detailed since some of the major commentaries on the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer published in England in the nineteenth century. Certainly there is nowhere I know that covers the discoveries and insights of the twentieth century as fully as this.”

Canon Kennedy has this to say about the Commentaries, “These Commentaries represent many years of teaching and working alongside ordinands, people involved in post-ordination studies, and diocesan lay readers in training.  Their origin was the perceived absence of relevant up to date information on the authorized services of the Church of Ireland and of guidance as to how best to use them.  They began as course notes used in the training of Readers in the Diocese of Armagh and for postordination study with the deacons and first-year priests.  As modern liturgical revision has developed and changed so the notes have grown into the present set of Commentaries and been adapted as required.”

To download the entire Commentaries as a PDF file, please click on the image blow

DRUMGLASS CURATE APPOINTED PRIEST-IN-CHARGE OF DERRYVOLGIE

The Rev Stephen McElhinney, Curate Assistant Drumglass Parish, Dungannon has been appointed as priest -in-charge of the parish of Derryvolgie, Diocese of Connor.

The Rev McElhinney is the son of Canon Liz McElhinney formerly rector of Calry Parish, Diocese of Elphin.
He was ordained a Deacon in 2005 and ordained a priest the following year.  He served as Curate Assistant in Kill Parish, Diocese of Dublin before moving to Dungannon in 2008.

The date for the Service of Institution has yet to be announced.

BISHOPS APPOINT THE VERY REVEREND PATRICK ROOKE
AS NEW BISHOP OF TUAM, KILLALA AND ACHONRY

The House of Bishops of the Church of Ireland have appointed the Very Revd Patrick W. Rooke as the new Bishop of the United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, to succeed the Rt Revd Dr Richard Henderson, who recently moved to the Diocese of Carlisle in the Church of England.

Announcing the new appointment, the Most Revd Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said:

‘I am delighted to be able to announce that at a meeting of the House of Bishops in Portmarnock today, the Very Revd Patrick Rooke, Dean of Armagh, was elected to succeed the Rt Revd Dr Richard Henderson as Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. It gives me great personal pleasure to welcome the election of the Dean to be the next bishop. I very much look forward to Dean Rooke taking leadership of the Church of Ireland people in the geographically very large diocese of the West. He brings many gifts of leadership, imagination and spirituality to the task. He has made a notable contribution in his time as Dean of Armagh and the people of Tuam, Killala & Achonry can look forward to receiving as their bishop a person of great pastoral sensitivity and effectiveness. As a member of the House of Bishops I know he will bring very many insights to enhance the consultations of the bishops and of the wider Church.

‘I particularly note his long engagement with the Hard Gospel project and its emphasis upon inclusivity and the fostering of good relations amongst people of goodwill and I know that this interest will be sustained and developed in his new diocese.’

Dean Rooke said he was delighted to accept the appointment and looked forward to leading the clergy and people of Tuam, Killala and Achonry at this important time for the Dioceses. He said that he took heart from the Special Meeting of the General Synod held last month, which had given almost unanimous support for the appointment of a new bishop to the numerically small diocese, but that it had also highlighted some of the issues that would need to be addressed.  The Dean said he would take his time to consider carefully the implications for himself as bishop and for the United Dioceses, and that he would encourage the clergy and people to share that journey with him.

Dean Rooke knows the West well.  His mother’s family came from County Mayo and his sister and other family members live in the Diocese. ‘Having spent the past thirty-three years in Northern Ireland, returning to the Republic will be different,’ he said. ‘However, I have found throughout my ministry that the experience gained growing up in a rectory family in Dublin has prepared me for most things.’

The Dean said he would be sorry to leave Armagh. ‘To have had the oversight of St Patrick’s Cathedral and of Armagh Public Library for the past five years has been a real privilege and we will be saying farewell with heavy hearts.’

Dean Rooke is married to Alison and they have three grown-up children, Emily, Nicholas and Susanna. Details of the new bishop’s consecration will follow in due course.

Biographical details for the Very Revd Patrick Rooke:

Curriculum Vitae

Very Rev. Patrick W. Rooke  B.A., M.Phil.

Born 12^th April 1955

Son of the late Rev. William & Mrs Rooke, formerly of Tullow Parish, Carrickmines, Diocese of Dublin.

Married to Alison (teacher of English at Portadown College), daughter of Canon Leslie & Mrs Forsythe, formerly of Antrim Parish, Diocese of Connor.

Children – Emily (29years), Nicholas (25years), Susanna (21years)

Education

1966 – 1973                  Sandford Park School, Dublin.
1973 – 1974                  Gurteen Agricultural College, Roscrea (National Cert. Agric.).
1975 – 1978                  Salisbury & Wells Theological College, Salisbury (Cert. Theol., Southampton University).
1981 – 1985                  Open University  (B.A.)
2003 – 2005                  Irish School of Ecumenics (M.Phil., Trinity College, Dublin)

Ministry

1978                            Made Deacon in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
1979                            Ordained Priest in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
1978 – 1981                  Curate Assistant of Mossley Parish, Diocese of Connor.
1981 – 1983                  Curate Assistant of Ballywillan Parish, Portrush, Diocese of Connor.
1983 – 1988                  Incumbent of Craigs, Dunaghy & Killagan Parishes, Diocese of  Connor.
1988 – 1994                  Incumbent of Ballymore Parish, Tandragee, Diocese of Armagh.
1994 – 2006                  Incumbent of Agherton Parish, Portstewart, Diocese of Connor.

Archdeacon of Dalriada from 2005.

2006 – present Dean of Armagh and Keeper of Armagh Public Library, Diocese of Armagh.

Positions of Responsibility

1985 – 1987                  Rural Dean of Ballymena.
1992 – 1994                  Assistant Provincial & Diocesan Registrar (Armagh).
1993 – 1994                  Honorary Clerical Vicar Choral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.
2001 – 2005                  Prebendary of Kilroot, in Lisburn Cathedral (Connor).
2004 – 2006                   Chair of the Board of the Good Book Shop, Belfast.
2005 – 2010                  Chair of the Church of Ireland Hard Gospel Committee.
2006 -                           Clerical Hon. Sec of the Church of Ireland Men’s Society.
2011 -                           Chair of the Board of the Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland

Interests

Sport – I am interested in all sports.  A rugby enthusiast, I attend as many of the internationals as possible!  Too old now for competitive hockey, I run to keep fit and play golf (badly!)

Gardening – As a student, in holiday time I worked as a contract gardener.  Fortunately I still find gardening relaxing – physically, mentally and spiritually!

Travel – I enjoy all travel – particularly fond of France.