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The Rev Pat Storey appointed Bishop of Meath and Kildare

Friday September 20th 2013

The Church of Ireland has appointed its first woman Bishop.

The House of Bishops of the Church of Ireland meeting in Dublin on Thursday September 19 appointed the Rev Pat (Patricia) Storey as the new Bishop of Meath and Kildare.

She will succeed The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, who is now Archbishop of Armagh. The appointment of the new bishop had passed to the House of Bishops as the Episcopal Electoral College which met on 28 May failed to appoint a Bishop of Meath and Kildare dioceses.

The Rev Pat Storey is currently Rector of St Augustine’s Parish Church, Londonderry.

Announcing the appointment, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said: “Having known Pat Storey since she was an undergraduate and I was Chaplain at Trinity College, Dublin, I very much welcome her as a new bishop. She is a person of great warmth, intelligence and spiritual depth and I am certain that her ministry in the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare and the wider Church will be a blessing to many. We remember her and her family in our prayers.”

The newly appointed Bishop said: “I am both excited and daunted by this new adventure in our lives. I have had an extraordinarily happy experience in St Augustine’s and in this wonderful city which I will be sad to leave.

“ However, I count it an enormous privilege to begin a new phase of my ministry with the people of Meath and Kildare, and I look forward to working with the team of clergy who are already there. I would sincerely ask for your prayers for myself and my family, who are the best family in the world!”

The 53–year–old has been Rector of St Augustine’s, Londonderry (Derry and Raphoe) since 2004. She is married to the Rev Earl Storey and has two adult children, Carolyn and Luke, and a son–in–law Peter.

Having grown up in Belfast and studied French and English at Trinity College, Dublin, she trained at the Church of Ireland Theological College (now Institute) and was ordained deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998. She served a Curacy in Ballymena (Connor) and was a Team Vicar in Glenavy (Connor) and a part–time Youth Worker Co–ordinator with the Church of Ireland Youth Department.

Among Central Church participation, she is a member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod. Pat becomes the first woman to be appointed a bishop in the Church of Ireland.

The consecration of the new bishop will take place in due course, followed by enthronement in the diocesan cathedrals thereafter.

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