The Most Reverend Alan Edwin Thomas Harper O.B.E., B.A.
Born 20th March 1944
Educated at Moorgate County Primary School, Tamworth, Staffordshire
The Grammar School of Elizabeth, Queen of England in Tamworth
Leeds University
Dublin University
B.A. Hons (Leeds University) 1965
1st Test. (Dublin University) 1978
Curate of Ballywillan (Connor) 1978-1980
Incumbent of Moville (Derry) 1980-1982
Incumbent of Londonderry Christ Church (Derry) 1982-1986
Incumbent of Malone (Connor) 1986-2002
Examining Chaplain to Bishop of Connor 1986-2002
Rural Dean of South Belfast 1989- 1996
Prebendary of St Audoen, St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin 1990-2001
Director of Post Ordination Training 1995-2001
Archdeacon of Connor 1996-2002
Precentor of St Anne's Cathedral Belfast 1996-2002
Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland; Member 1980-1988, Chairman 1988-1995; O.B.E. 1996 for services to Conservation in Northern Ireland
Elected Bishop of Connor by Electoral College on 17th December 2001
Consecrated in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast on 18th March 2002
Enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on 25th April 2002
Elected Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 9th January 2007 by the House of Bishops
Enthroned in St Parick's Cathedral, Armagh on16th March 2007
Profile
Born in Tamworth on 20 March 1944, he was educated at Moorgate County Primary School, and then The Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England, Tamworth, Staffordshire.
He studied Geography at Leeds University being awarded a BA Hons in 1965. During the academic year 1965/66 he was University Map Curator and Departmental Librarian in the Department of Geography, University of Leeds. In July 1966 he was appointed a member of the Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland (subsequently the Historic Monuments Inspectorate) as Field officer and subsequently Senior Inspector of Historic Monuments. In 1974 he took up a post as Principal Assistant Planning Officer (Archaeology and Environment) in the Planning Department of Staffordshire County Council before entering the University of Dublin (Trinity College) in 1975 to study for the Testimonium in Divinity, awarded in 1978.
Bishop Harper was ordained deacon in 1978 and priested in 1979. He began his ministry in Northern Ireland undertaking his curacy at Ballywillan in Connor diocese from 1978-1980.
In 1980 he moved to Derry diocese to be incumbent of Moville and then became incumbent of Christ Church Londonderry from 1982-1986.
Returning to Connor diocese and the Belfast area, Bishop Harper moved to be incumbent of Malone from 1986-2002. During this time he was also appointed Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Connor (1986-2002), Rural Dean of South Belfast (1989-1996), Prebendary of St Audoen, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1990-2001) and Director of Post Ordination Training (1990-2001).
From 1999-2002 he was also Archdeacon of Connor and Precentor of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
Bishop Harper's passion for archaeology and history led him, in 1980, to be appointed a member of the Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland and to become its Chairman from 1986-1995. In 1996 he was appointed an OBE for Services to Conservation in Northern Ireland.
Meeting on 17 December 2001, the Episcopal Electoral College elected him Bishop of Connor in succession to Bishop James Moore.
He was consecrated on 18 March 2002 in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast and enthroned in Christ Church, Lisburn on 25 April.
On 9 January 2007 he was elected as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland by the House of Bishops.
Enthroned in St Parick's Cathedral, Armagh on 16th March 2007
Bishop Harper is married to Helen and they have four children and one grandchild
Residence:
5 Beresford Row
The Mall
Armagh
BT61 9AU