The Rev Paul Dundas appointed Archdeacon of Dalriada

Monday February 5th 2018

The Rev Paul Dundas will be installed as Archdeacon of Dalriada at a service in Lisburn Cathedral on March 4.

The Rev Paul Dundas, rector of Christ Church Parish, Lisburn, has been appointed Archdeacon of Dalriada by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy.

Paul succeeds the Very Rev Stephen Forde, who was installed as Dean of Belfast in St Anne’s Cathedral on February 4.

Paul said he was ‘honoured and humbled’ to be made Archdeacon of this the most northerly of Connor Diocese’s three archdeaconries, covering the Rural Deaneries of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Coleraine.

“It is a privilege for me, my family and my parish to have this honour bestowed upon me,” Paul said. “I am looking forward to finding out more about this part of the diocese.”

Bishop Alan said he was delighted to welcome Paul as the new Archdeacon of Dalriada.

“He has served in parish ministry in the diocese in different contexts and brings with him a wealth of experience,” the Bishop said. “He has a vibrant faith, agile mind, warm personality, pastoral gifts and a sense of humour. I look forward to working with him.”

Paul was educated at Kilbarron National School, Ballyshannon, and Donemana Primary School before attending Strabane Grammar School and Portadown College. He studied Environmental Science at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, and his Bachelor of Theology is from Trinity College, Dublin.

The Rev Paul Dundas, newly appointed Archdeacon of Dalriada, with his wife Nola and children Curtis, Joel and Anna.

He was ordained in 1991 for the curacy of St Mark’s, Portadown, and was instituted as the rector of Ardtrea and Desertcreat in March 1995. He moved to St Aidan’s, Belfast, in June 2000 and became rector of Christ Church, Lisburn, in January 2005. The parish celebrated its 175th anniversary last November with the launch of a book detailing the history and memories of the parish.

Paul was brought up in a rectory family and was converted at the age of 13, a month before his confirmation. He enjoyed being part of the Boys’ Brigade in Artigarvan, Strabane, and the Scripture Union in Portadown College. He was awarded the Queen’s Badge in the BB whilst a member of the company in St Mark’s, Portadown.

He has held various roles within the wider church, including Chairperson of Armagh Diocesan Youth Council, Chair of the Northern Regional Youth Council, Chair of Connor Diocesan Training Council, and is a member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and Connor Diocesan Council. Paul presently serves on the Council of Reference for the Church Pastoral Aid Society, and led their work in Ireland for a couple of years on a voluntary basis until 2016.

In 2016, he chaired the group of church leaders in Lisburn that organised 40 days of “ReLENTless” prayer for Lisburn city.

Paul has a deep interest in Global Mission and was on teams with Crosslinks and Youth for Christ while in his teens and twenties. In 2000 he was part of a team from Armagh Diocese to visit Arua, northern Uganda, working in the Bishop Alison College with theological students from southern Sudan.

Since he has been rector of Christ Church, the parish has embarked on a mission partnership with Fields of Life, building a school at St Apollo, Kisizi, in Luwero Diocese, Uganda. Paul led the second and third team visits to work in the school. In 2010 he spent nine weeks of a sabbatical in Asia with the Anglican Church in Singapore as well as travelling to Indonesia to visit churches.

Paul is the eldest son of the late Rev Thompson and late Roberta Dundas. He is married to Nola, presently Professor and Head of Queen’s Management School, and they have three children, Curtis, who is studying Medicine at Queen’s, and Joel and Anna who both attend The Wallace High School in Lisburn.

Paul is a fervent supporter of Manchester Utd, enjoys watching his sons play rugby, loves walking the family dog Boomer, playing indoor bowls, reading a good John Grisham novel, and the tranquility of Dundrum Bay, Newcastle.

The service of installation of the new Archdeacon in the Chapter of St Saviour’s, Connor, will take place in Lisburn Cathedral on Sunday March 4 at 3.30pm.