Canon’s Irwin’s 20th anniversary marked in Ballymacash

Friday December 5th 2008

L to R: Ian Somerville, (Former member of Select Vestry), Irene Kirker (People’s Churchwarden), David Armstrong (Rector’s Churchwarden), Mrs Deirdre Irwin (Rector’s wife), the Rev Canon George Irwin (Rector) and the Rev Kenneth Gamble (Curate). A service in St Mark’s Church, Ballymacash, on Sunday November 30 marked the 20th anniversary of the Rev Canon George Irwin’s ministry in the parish.

Canon Irwin, who was instituted as rector of St Mark’s on December 2 1988, received a gift on behalf of the congregation from Ian Somerville, who was a member of select vestry for over 20 years.

Ian gave a glowing report on the rector’s long and devoted service, and Mr David Armstrong, the rector’s churchwarden, presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Deirdre Irwin, the rector’s wife.

Canon Irwin has a keen interest in mission work of the church and the guest speaker at the special missionary service was Julie Currie, Youth and Children’s Co-ordinator, Church Mission Society Ireland (CMS Ireland).