Bishop’s curate to be instituted rector in St Stephen and St Luke’s

Friday July 3rd 2009

The Rev Edith Quirey. A Service of Institution for the Rev Edith Quirey as rector of St Stephen and St Luke, Belfast, will take place on Monday July 6.

It will be a day of mixed emotions for Edith, as her mother Elizabeth Sanlon died on Tuesday evening, June 30, at the age of 82. Her funeral takes place in St Matthew’s Parish Church, Belfast, on Saturday July 4.

Edith was Priest-in Charge of St Stephen and St Luke for three years and during this time St Luke’s church closed for worship and united with St Stephen’s. A year ago she was appointed Bishop’s Curate of the parishes.

Edith said: “It is only a name but it will be nice for the congregation and for me to be officially recognised. For me it will be nice to be made rector of a parish I have worked in for four years. It is a great honour. It will mean a lot for the parish to have a service of institution.”

She said her mother would be with her in spirit. “My mum was very proud of me when I was ordained and when she was well enough she was always there for me. I would have loved her to have been able to hold on a wee bit longer but it was not to be,” she said. “But I know she would have wanted me to go ahead with the institution.”

Edith is married to Jim and the couple has a son, two daughters and six grandchildren.

The Service of Institution, by the Bishop of Connor the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, will take place in St Stephen’s Parish Church at 8pm on Monday.