Three Canons installed at St Anne’s Cathedral

Monday January 9th 2017

Three new Canons were installed in St Anne’s Cathedral at Choral Evensong on Sunday January 8.

They were the Rev Canon Mark Niblock, Dean’s Vicar at St Anne’s, the Rev Canon David Humphries, rector of Kilbride, Connor Diocese, and the Rev Canon Gareth Harron, rector of Holywood, Diocese of Down and Dromore.

Mark and David were each appointed a Canon of the Cathedral by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and Gareth was appointed by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Rev Harold Miller.

Pictured at the installation of the new Canons of St Anne’s Cathedral on Sunday January 8 are, from left: The Rev Canon Gareth Harron (Holywood Parish), The Rev Canon Mark Niblock (Dean’s Vicar); the Rev Canon David Humphries (Kilbride Parish); and the Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann. Photo: Ron Elsdon

Mark was formerly Priest-in-Charge of St Colmgall’s, Rathcoole Parish, Diocese of Connor. He is married to Cherry and has two boys. A native of Bangor, he is a former student of Bangor Grammar School. He read Theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and after graduation worked for James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors from 1999 to 2006.

Before he was ordained, Mark studied for a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality at Milltown Institute, Dublin.

Mark was curate assistant in Agherton Parish, Portstewart, from his ordination in June 2008 until his move to Rathcoole in May 2012. He was appointed Dean’s Vicar at St Anne’s Cathedral in April 2016.

David was a Canon of St Anne’s for the Diocese of Down and Dromore, and after his move to Connor (he was instituted as rector of Kilbride on November 8 2016) he was appointed a Canon for Connor Diocese.

Originally from Belfast, David attended Annadale Grammar School and Stranmillis College, and taught Music, RE and Remedial English at the Boys’ Model School, Belfast, for five years.

He trained for ministry in Dublin and was ordained in 1986. His first curacy was in Ballyholme where he remained for four years until his appointment as Vicar Chorale at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

After three years at St Anne’s David moved to St Molua’s, Stormont, where he was rector for 23 years.

He was appointed as a Canon of St Anne’s Cathedral by the Bishop of Down and Dromore four years ago.

David has been leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land every year for 23 years, and is the Chairperson of the Down & Dromore and Connor Organ Scholarship Scheme.

Gareth succeeds the Rev Canon Norman Jardine who has retired. He was ordained deacon in 1995 for the curacy of Willowfield in Down Diocese. He served a second curacy in the Cathedral Parish of Dromore before becoming rector of Magheralin in Dromore Diocese.

He and his wife Ruth spent 13 years in Magheralin, where they enjoyed the growth of the church and had their three children.

Gareth was a chapter member in Dromore Cathedral for some four years until he was appointed to Holywood Parish at the end of 2015.