The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Rev David Lockhart instituted in Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo

Friday August 31st 2018

At the service of institution in St Cedma’s, Larne are, from left: The Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada; the Rev Canon William Taggart, Registrar; the Ven George Davison, Bishop’s Commissary; the Rev David Lockhart, who was instituted as rector; the Rev William Henry, Maze Presbyterian Church, who preached; and the Rev Philip Benson, former curate.

St Cedma’s Parish Church was packed on Thursday evening, August 30, for the institution of the Rev David Lockhart as rector of the Grouped Parishes of Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo.

Clergy gather before the service in St Cedma’s.

David, who was rector of Cloughfern Parish for 15 years, was instituted by the Ven George Davison, Commissary to the Bishop of Connor. Preacher at the service was the Rev William Henry, Maze Presbyterian Church.

Welcoming the congregation, Archdeacon Davison said many people had travelled a distance to be present, and he made special reference to the Rev Mikael Leckström from Larne’s link parish of Väderstad in the Swedish Diocese of Linköping, who had travelled especially to welcome the new rector.

David is married to Beverley and they have three teenage children, Naomi, Jonathan and Hannah. He grew up in Shankill Parish, Lurgan, where his father Norman Lockhart, Dean of Dromore, was rector.

He studied at Queen’s University in Belfast, graduating with a BSc in Chemistry, and it was during his student days when he was very involved in the Church of Ireland Centre at Queen’s that he felt a calling to ministry.

Church Warden Mr Ronnie Lee sings during the institution service in Larne.

After graduating David went to Dublin to study theology. He was ordained 25 years last June. Following a curacy in St Mary’s, Crumlin Road, Belfast, he spent several years as rector of St Stephen’s and St Luke’s in Belfast before his move to Cloughfern. He was North Belfast Rural Dean for five years.

Following the service on Thursday night, speeches of welcome for the new rector and his family were delivered in the church before the congregation retired to the halls of First Larne Presbyterian for light refreshments.

The Rev David Lockhart, the Ven George Davison, the Ven Paul Dundas and the Rev Canon William Taggart join the procession into the church.

Service of institution of the Rev David Lockhart as rector of the Grouped Parishes of Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo in St Cedma’s Parish Church.

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