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Appointment to Kilwaughter and Cairncastle with All Saints, Craigyhill

Sunday July 3rd 2022

The Rev Arlene Moore.

The Rev Arlene Moore, Priest-in-Charge of Rathcoole, has been appointed as Priest-in-Charge of Kilwaughter and Cairncastle with All Saints, Craigyhill.

Arlene grew up in Glynn, attending both First Larne Presbyterian Church and St John’s Parish Church, Glynn. She was a pupil at Glynn Primary School. She later lived in Craigyhill, attending Linn Road Primary School, and also visiting All Saints, Craigyhill, with her grandmother.

The family moved to Antrim and later to a farm in the countryside at Newferry, near Toomebridge.

Arlene says she has fond memories of visiting ‘the Armada tree’ in Cairncastle as a child after a paddle at Ballygally.

She attended Ballymena Academy and then Dundee University, graduating in 1987 with a BSc Joint Hons in Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Arlene worked in cancer research in the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics at Aberdeen University before qualifying with a PGCE and teaching in both secondary and primary schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

She was accepted for ordination in 1992 and during her time at Theological College developed a love of world mission, completing an elective placement in South East Asia. Overseas trips continued throughout Arlene’s curacy years in St Mark’s, Portadown, to places including South America and Africa. 

Moving to England in 1999, for several years Arlene worked as a research assistant in a second curacy at St Thomas’ Crookes (Sheffield), and then in disabled student support work as an assistant lecturer in both Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam Universities whilst studying for various further qualifications, including two Masters’ degrees – one in Education, and one in Theology and Evangelism Studies through the Church Army.

Returning to Northern Ireland in 2009, Arlene took up the role of full time NHS Chaplain in both the Mater and Musgrave Park Hospitals and Priest-in-Charge in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Monkstown, a single Covenant Partnership Church with the Methodist Church.

In 2016, she moved to St Comgall’s, Rathcoole, as part-time Priest-in-Charge whilst training in the Facilitation of Lectio Divina and qualifying as a Spiritual Director.

Looking ahead to her new role, Arlene said: “Any parish move is bittersweet.

“I have had six very happy years in Rathcoole and will indeed miss the parishioners and friends I have made there very much, but I have lots of good memories of all that we have done together in the work of God.

“Having lived in Larne for the past six years, it will be strange not having to travel up the A8 regularly for work. But I trust the good people of Rathcoole will know they are more than welcome to travel down the A8 at any time to visit!”

She said 2022 was a very special year for the people of All Saints, Craigyhill, as the parish marks 60 years as a congregation.

“I welcome the privilege of being able to join them in looking back with thanksgiving for all the blessings they have known in those years, and to celebrating that milestone anniversary in due course.” Arlene said.

“In the present my focus is on getting to know the people of both parishes, loving and serving them in Jesus’ name, and building on the solid foundations laid by previous generations of clergy and faithful laity alike. I look forward also to taking time with both parishes, listening to the Lord, discerning where God is leading for the future and stepping into that together.”

Arlene enjoys photography, crafts – particularly crochet and cross stitch – and walking her dog Cara. She has a passion for local and natural history and is currently researching her family tree.

No date has yet been set for the Service of Introduction.

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