Ordination of three new priests in Connor Diocese

Monday September 5th 2016

At the Ordination Service are, from left: the Rev Isobel Hawthorne-Steele, Bishop Alan Abernethy, the Rev Denis Christie and the Rev Aaron McAlister.

At the Ordination Service are, from left: the Rev Isobel Hawthorne-Steele, Bishop Alan Abernethy, the Rev Dennis Christie and the Rev Aaron McAlister.

St Patrick’s, Ballymena, was packed for a Service of Ordination of Priests in Connor Diocese on Sunday September 4.

At the service, the Rev Dennis Christie was ordained to serve as curate in the Parish of Ballymena; the Rev Aaron McAlister to serve as curate in All Saints’, Antrim; and the Rev Isobel Hawthorne-Steel to serve as curate in St Paul and St Barnabas, Belfast.

Dennis served his internship in the Parish of Muckamore; Aaron in the Parish of Ballywillan (Portrush) and Isobel in the Grouped Parishes of Ahoghill and Portglenone.

They were ordained on Sunday by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, who also preached. More photos can be viewed at on the Ballymena Parish Facebook Page.

At the Ordination of Priests in St Patrick’s, Ballymena, are, back from left: The Rev John McClure, curate, St Patrick’s; the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast; the Ven Stephen Forde, Archdeacon of Dalriada; the Rev Mark McConnell, rector, St Patrick’s, Ballymena. Front, from left: The Rev Canon William Taggart, Registrar; the Rev Dennis Christie; Bishop Alan Abernethy; the Rev Isobel Hawthorne-Steele; and the Rev Aaron McAlister.