Carrickfergus parish welcomes new rector

Nigel, 50, is married to Cristina. He was previously rector of St Dorothea’s Parish, Gilnahirk, Diocese of Down and Dromore.

He grew up in Belleek, Co Fermanagh and moved to Belfast to work as a volunteer with the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe which organised and facilitated international youth conferences.

Nigel was appointed an intern to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Youth Department and took part in a nine-month study tour of Asia, looking at the situation of Christian minorities, and finishing at the WCC Youth Convention in Australia in 1991.

When he returned to Belfast, Nigel became a founder member of the Solas Community of Reconciliation, based on the ‘peaceline’ in north Belfast. He continued to do cross-community work before taking up a post of a hostel supervisor with the Grampian Adolescent Project, which supported young people from difficult backgrounds to live independently in the community.

Eighteen months later he followed the calling he had had from his student days and went to Theological College in Dublin to train for the ministry.

In 1996 Nigel was ordained for St Columba’s, Portadown, where he was a curate for three years, before taking a second curacy with the Lecale Group which included Down Cathedral.

In 2001 Nigel was appointed rector of Killinchy and Kilmood Union of Parishes, moving to St Dorothea’s in 2007. He was appointed a Minor Canon of Belfast Cathedral in 2014.

Nigel was instituted rector of Kilroot and Templecorran by the Bishop of Connor’s Commissary, the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast, as Bishop Alan Abernethy is currently on sick leave.

Speaking at the time of his appointment, Nigel said: “When I visited the churches in Kilroot and Templecorran and saw the vision for the parish, I felt that this is the place I ought to be. I really felt the spirit move in me in that regard.”