Parishes of Kildress & Altedesert
After the process of a Board of Nomination, the Archbishop of Armagh is very pleased to announce that the Rev’d Rodney Blair, currently Vicar of Shankill Parish, Lurgan, has been appointed to become Rector of the Parishes of Kildress & Altedesert. The date of Rodney's Institution Service has yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, may we remember Rodney and Judith, as well as their children Harry and Patrick in our prayers and we look forward to Rodney's ministry which will begin in his new parishes later this year.
Parishes of Dundalk, Heynestown Union, Ballymascanlan Union and Creggan
The Archbishop of Armagh has appointed the Rev’d Shirley Murphy, currently serving as an Incumbent in the Church in Wales, as Rector of the Grouped Parishes of Dundalk, Heynestown Union, Ballymascanlan Union and Creggan. The date of the Service of Institution will be agreed in due course. In the meantime, may we also remember Shirley and Julian, and their son Dylan in our prayers and we look forward to Shirley’s ministry with us.
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev’d John McDowell said:
‘I am delighted that the Rev’d Shirley Murphy and the Rev’d Rodney Blair will be coming to serve in the Diocese. Rodney will be no stranger to many people in Armagh as he served as a Youth Worker and served his internship as a deacon in the Diocese. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Rodney and his wife Judith and children Harry and Patrick back to the Diocese and to the parishes of Kildress and Altedesert.
The Rev’d Shirley is joining us from farther afield-in fact from India by way of the Church in Wales where she has ministered for the past five years. I know that Shirley and her husband Julian and son Dylan will find a warm welcome in the Dundalk Group of parishes as she begins her ministry there. Moving to a new country and a new Province of the Anglican Communion is a considerable undertaking for Shirley but it is one which will I am confident will enrich the parishes, the Diocese and the Church of Ireland.’
Rodney commented:
‘Judith, Harry, Patrick and I are thankful for a call to Kildress and Altedesert and looking forward to getting to know, worship with and minister to the people there.
It has been a great joy to work with an excellent staff team in Shankill Parish, minister with Archdeacon Mark Harvey and worship with our church family there; we will be sad to leave but we trust God’s guiding and look forward to serving Him in this new season.’
Shirley commented:
‘It is truly an honour to have been appointed as Rector to the Dundalk Group of Parishes in the Diocese of Armagh and I would like to sincerely thank Archbishop John for appointing me to this position. As a family we look forward moving to Ireland and also getting to know the congregation members and ministering to the community at large.’