The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Institution of the Rev James Boyd in Derryvolgie Parish

Wednesday November 14th 2018

At the service of institution in St Columba’s are, back row from left: Canon William Taggart, Registrar; The Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada; the Rev John Rutter, Rural Dean. Front row from left: The Ven Dr Stephen McBride, Bishop’s Commissary, and the Rev James Boyd, new rector of Derryvolgie.

St Columba’s Parish Church, Derryvolgie, was packed on Tuesday evening, November 13, for the institution of the Rev James Boyd as rector. 

James was instituted by the Bishop of Connor’s Commissary, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride. The preacher was the Rev Barry Forde, Chaplain and Dean of Residence at Queen’s University, Belfast.

Among the guests at the service were the Lord Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Councillor Uel Mackin, and his wife, Lady Mayoress Jennifer Mackin.

The Rev James Boyd and his wife Shirley at his institution service in St Columba’s, Derryvolgie.

James is married to Shirley and they have two daughters, Rebekah aged nine and Hannah aged five.

He is a past pupil of Ballymena Academy and has a degree in computer programming from Ulster University. He worked in computer programming for a short time, but felt God was calling him to some level of ministry.

James worked with the Church of Ireland Year Out team in 1998-99, and during his 12 months he helped in 26 different churches across Ireland, doing short term mission work.

He was appointed Youth Ministry Co-ordinator in Moira and spent five years developing and delivering youth work in the parish.

James left in 2004 to begin training for ordination at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin. After ordination he was curate in the parish of Magheralin with Dollingstown, Diocese of Down and Dromore, for four years before his appointment as rector of Holy Trinity, Dromore, Co Tyrone, Diocese of Clogher.

James moved to Willowfield Parish, Belfast, as Vicar in 2015.

James said: “We feel a real sense of God’s call. Derryvolgie is a parish which has been in our hearts for a long time.  We see a lot of opportunity in this place. It will be different but good.”

Clergy with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Councillor Uel and Mrs Jennifer Mackin, at the institution of the Rev James Boyd in Derryvolgie.

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