Institution of Bishop Darren McCartney in St Paul’s, Lisburn

Monday September 11th 2023

At the Service of Institution of the Rt Rev Darren McCartney as rector of St Paul’s, Lisburn, On September 7 are, front row from left: The Rt Rev David McClay, Bishop of Down and Dromore, preacher; the Rt Rev Darren McCartney; and the Rt Rev George Davison, Bishop of Connor. Back row, from left: The Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada; the Rev Canon William Taggart, Registrar; the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, Archdeacon of Connor; and the Rev Nicholas Dark, Rural Dean. Photo: Norman Briggs.

St Paul’s Parish Church, Lisburn, was packed on Thursday September 7 for the institution of the Rt Rev Darren McCartney as rector.

Darren is married to Karen and they have one son. He comes to St Paul’s from Clonallon and Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore where he had been rector since 2019. The Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Rev David McClay, preached at the service.

Darren spent his formative years in Dundrod, Co Antrim, growing up close to the Ulster Grand Prix motorbike circuit. He is part of a close family including parents Jim and Muriel, brothers Don and Duane, and sisters Coleen and Laura.

He attended Lisnagarvey High School and later spent eight years as a plant engineer before training for the ministry and taking up a post as deacon-in-charge and then priest-in-charge of St Luke’s Anglican Church, Diocese of the Arctic, Canada, in the community of Pangnirtung, Nunavut.

Darren returned to Northern Ireland in 2006 and was a curate in St Nicholas’, Carrickfergus, for three years before becoming rector of St Matthias, Knocknamuckley.

In June 2012, during the Diocesan Arctic Synod, he was elected and consecrated Suffragan Bishop of the Arctic and had and Karen moved to Iqaluit, Baffin Island, in January 2013.

The family returned to Northern Ireland when Darren took up the post of rector of Clonallon and Warrenpoint with Kilbroney. He was also Area Dean for the Mourne, and Warden to the Pioneering Ministers in the Diocese of Down and Dromore.

With thanks to Norman Briggs for the photographs of the Service of Institution.