The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, represented the Church of Ireland at a special service held in All Souls, Langham Place, London on Ascension Day (Thursday 5 May), to give thanks for 150 years of Reader Ministry in the British Isles and Europe.

Reader Ministry in the Church of Ireland has a strong and interesting history, and is the subject of an engaging book:
Reader History in the Church of Ireland, published by Church of Ireland Publishing in 2009 – which was the centenary year of the lay office of Reader in the Church of Ireland. The volume charts the evolutionary course of this office and the people who shaped and served it.
Sadly, the book’s author, George Leckey, who was a Reader in the Diocese of Connor, passed away last year, after many years of indefatigable service.

Reader History in the Church of Ireland is available from The Bookwell (http://www.thebookwell.co.uk/reader-ministry-in-the-church-of-ireland) and from Church of Ireland Publishing c/o Church of Ireland House, Dublin, (see: https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store ).