New Connor Diocesan Readers commissioned

Monday January 28th 2019

Before the service for the commissioning of Lay Readers at Belfast Cathedral on January 27 are, from left: Mrs Gillian McGaughey; the Rev Eddie Coulter, Lambeg; Dr Brian Bennet; Dean Stephen Forde; Archdeacon George Davison, Bishop’s Commissary (back) and the Rev Kevin Graham, Connor Warden of Readers.

Two new Lay Readers were commissioned for Connor Diocese at a service in Belfast Cathedral on Sunday January 27.

They were Mrs Gillian McGaughey, a Warden at Belfast Cathedral, and Dr Brian Bennet, Lambeg Parish.

The Service was a celebration of the Ministry of Diocesan Lay Readers, and the Choir of St Polycarp’s Parish, Finaghy, and its Director Mr Simon Neill, joined the Belfast Cathedral Choir for this special occasion.

Lay Readers who attended the service in Belfast Cathedral on Sunday.

Friends and family of the two new Readers, along with visitors from Lambeg and the wider Lisburn area, were welcomed to St Anne’s Cathedral by the Dean, the Very Rev Stephen Forde.

Mrs McGaughey and Dr Bennet read the first two Lessons They were commissioned as Diocesan Readers by the Bishop of Connor’s Commissary, the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast.

The Archdeacon said: “Thank you to all Diocesan Readers for all that you do. Without you all, the ministry of our church would be the poorer.”

Both new Readers were accompanied at the service by their incumbents, Mrs McGaughey by Dean Forde, and Dr Bennet by the Rev Eddie Coulter. They were presented for commissioning by the Rev Kevin Graham, Connor Warden of Readers.

Dean Forde preached at the service, which was followed by refreshments.