Revd. Sam Peilow welcomed as the new Curate to the Bishop in the Killeshandra Group of Parishes

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On Sunday, 16th July, parishioners from Killeshandra, Killegar and Derrylane  joined together in a service to welcome Revd. Sam Peilow as Bishop’s Curate in their parish group. The service was led by the Rt. Revd. Ferran Glenfield, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh with The Venerable Ian Horner, Archdeacon of Kilmore, preaching. In his address, based on Romans 8 vs 1-11, Revd. Ian reminded us of the wonderful truth that there that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and encouraged us to keep our hearts set on what the Holy Spirit desires.

Revd. Naomi Quinn led the prayers of intercession. During the service, words of welcome from the three parishes were said by Mr. Wilson Kells. It was wonderful to see all the children in the congregation.

Revd. Sam has recently completed theological training in Oak Hill College and ordained deacon in the Diocese of London. The service was a wonderful celebration of the beginning of a new ministry in the Killeshandra Group of parishes. As we welcome Revd. Sam, his wife, Georgina and their daughter, Zoë we seek God’s grace that we may continue to build each other up to the glory of His name.


Revd. Sam Peilow appointed to the Killeshandra Group of Parishes

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This Sunday, 16th July, Revd. Sam Peilow will be welcomed as the new Curate to the Bishop in the Killeshandra group of Parishes. Revd. Sam has recently completed Church of England ordination training at Oak Hill College, and was ordained deacon in London Diocese earlier this month.

Revd. Sam grew up in Derry, attending his local Church of Ireland parish. He began to grasp the gospel clearly during his teens, through the diocesan youth ministry in Derry and Raphoe (alongside Scripture Union, Crosslinks camps, and countless other influences!) After a number of years working in the software industry, Sam began a two-year ministry internship in a city-centre church in Dublin, where he met his wife, Georgina. Georgina, originally from Donegal, has taught English as a second language in both Dublin and London, although these days she’s a full-time Mum to Zoë, with another baby on the way later in the summer. Sam and family are looking forward to moving to Killeshandra, getting to know the town and the community, and to serving the church and sharing the good news of Jesus.

KEA celebrates Bishop Ferran Glenfield’s 10th year in the Diocese

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This Sunday, friends, family, clergy and parishioners from across the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh packed into St. Feithlimidh’s Cathedral, Kilmore to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the consecration of the Right Reverend Dr Samuel Ferran Glenfield as Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. The service, which took place on a glorious summer’s evening, was led by Dean Nigel Crossey and was a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate this important milestone in the life our Diocesan family.

The service opened with a rousing rendition of the great Pentecost Hymn, ‘Father, Lord of All Creation’ and music continued to be a highlight of the evening. The Choir of Cavan Royal School performed a wonderful arrangement of the Matt Redmond praise song, ’10 thousand reasons’ and the Cathedral Choir sung the anthem ‘Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying’ by Fanny Crosby.

The Ven. Barry Forde, Archdeacon of Belfast preached at the service. In his sermon he said that Pentecost underlines a spiritual understanding of human life – ‘human beings filled with the person and presence of God; putting their trust and faith in God who created us and who sustains us and who surrendered himself for us; seeking His will and His ways before all our wills and all our ways’. He said that we have ‘come together to mark and to celebrate 10 years of spirit-filled ministry, of spirit-filled teaching, of spirit-led worship, pastoral care and counsel. Yet, we do not mark this ministry because of anything distinct or special or elevated in Bishop Ferran but because this is precisely how God acts in the world through His people. A full copy of Archdeacon Barry’s sermon is available here.

The service was followed by a wonderful reception in the church hall during which Archdeacon Hazel Hicks and our Diocesan Secretary, Sarah Taylor presented the Bishop with gifts and words of congratulations. The evening was a joyous occasion and a wonderful reminder of the Pentecost truth that ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5).

Mothers’ Union Festival Services of Thanksgiving

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This May, Mothers’ Union Groups from across the Diocese gathered for two Festival Services of Thanksgiving. The first service took place on the 9th May in the Cathedral Church of St Mary, the Virgin and St John the Baptist, Sligo. The second service took place on the 23rd May in St Patrick’s Church Ballintemple. The theme of both services was ‘Transformation – Now!’ with the reminder that with God nothing is impossible. Dean Arfon Williams preached at the first service from 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 and 15 and Linda Abwa from CMS Ireland preached at the second service from Galatians  vs 1-6 vs 1-10. The services of thankgiving were a wonderful opportunity to gather together as a family to recommit ourselves to a vision of transformation in our own lives, in the MU and the world – transformation made possible by God’s mercy through our faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

‘It’s Your Call’ video explores vocations

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What does it mean to explore a call to ordained ministry?  It’s Your Call features interviews with a range of clergy about their ordained ministry in communities in different parts of the island of Ireland.  Vocation means what you are called by God to be and do. For some, this is a specific calling to ministry. For others, it can mean serving God through faithful discipleship in other areas of everyday life.

The Commission on Ministry is asking parishes to encourage conversations and discussions by holding a Vocation Sunday on 21st May, or another date at their discretion if this is more convenient, and It’s Your Call may be a helpful resource for showing in a six-minute slot in your service, or indeed through parish websites and social media.  If a parish would prefer to have its own copy or if broadband access is limited in a particular location, the video can be downloaded from this page on the Church of Ireland’s Vimeo channel.

Anyone with an interest in exploring a vocation to ordained ministry is encouraged to speak with their Rector in the first instance.  A range of resources is available at www.vocations.ireland.anglican.org which include articles on pathways to ordination, lay ministry, Pioneer Ministry, and understanding selection, and posters for parishes to encourage people to think about the role to which God may be calling them. 

Young Leaders in Ministry Fund open again for applications. Closing date: 31st May 2023

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Closing date: 31st May 2023

The Church of Ireland Youth Department’s next round of applications for the Young Leaders In Ministry Fund is now open and the closing date for this is Wednesday, 31st May. The fund is open to young people aged between 15 and 25 years who can demonstrate a current involvement in the Church of Ireland. It seeks to support training and development courses, mission teams, leadership opportunities and placements that can be shown to:

1. significantly develop the faith of the young adult applicant;

2. grow the skills of the applicant especially, but not confined to, leadership skills; and

3. be of significant use to the ministry of the Church of Ireland in the 12 months following the completion of the opportunity.

Please do share widely in your networks and with your young people/leaders – this can make a significant difference to a young person’s experience and we have seen great uptake with the Fund since its inception.

The application form is available at this link.

KEA Diocesan GFS Diocesan Service

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This Sunday the 30th April, Derrylin Parish Church hosted the KEA Diocesan GFS Service. Almost 30 girls, their parents and leaders joined together for a wonderful service based on the story of baby Moses. The girls from the Derrylin GFS branch read a poem entitled; ‘Hush a Bye Baby in your Reed Boat’ by Bob Hartman and Sam Hargreaves. In his sermon based on Exodus chapter 1 and 2, Rev Alastair Donaldson spoke of how, during a time of great darkness, God was working out his plan to rescue his people through the lives of three women – using the faith of Moses’ mother Jochebad, the obedience of Moses’ sister, Miriam and the courageous love of a pagan princess. Rev. Alastair noted that God is always at work in His most perfect timing, and that, when the time had fully come, God sent his Son so that we might be redeemed and adopted as his own children (Galatians 4vs4).

Girls from every GFS branch took part in the service by reading a bible reading or prayer. After the service there was a cup of tea in the hall and a special time of hospitality and friendship. We pray for the girls in the GFS branches around the Diocese and beyond as they deepen their knowledge and strengthen their faith in Christ.

Sperrin Choir on a Journey through the Musicals at Holy Trinity Crom

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On Saturday 29th April the excellent Sperrin Choir will be performing at Holy Trinity Crom outside Derrylin for a concert commencing at 7.30pm tickets priced £10 or €10. The Sperrin Choir is a 50 person, cross-community choir based in Mid Ulster in Northern Ireland. This spring their programme has consisted of ‘A Journey Through the Musicals’ and as usual they have been hitting all the right notes as they revisit some great pieces from Musical Theatre. Please do mark this in your diaries wherever you might be in the diocese and it promises to be a lovely occasion.

Canon Edward Yendall installed as Canon in St Patrick’s Cathedral

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Congratulations to Canon Edward Yendall who was installed as our Diocesan Canon in in St. Patrick’s on Tuesday 7th March.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, is the Church of Ireland’s National Cathedral, with a common relation to all of the 11 dioceses which make up our Church. Like all cathedrals, in part it is governed by a group called the Chapter, which is made up of Canons. There is a Canon to represent each of the dioceses, and Bishop Ferran has recently appointed, Canon Edward Yendall, as our diocesan Canon. This is a great honour for Edward, and we send him our congratulations and good wishes.

Once installed, Canon Edward’s responsibilities (while continuing his ministry locally) will include participating in meetings of the Chapter and spending two different weeks of the year ‘in residence’ in the Cathedral, which involve being present and involved in its daily life, assisting at weekday services, and preaching at the morning and afternoon service on the Sunday. To learn more about St. Patrick’s, you might like to visit its website at the link above.

‘O God, the King of glory, who art ever adored by thy holy angels, yet delightest in the praises of the sons of men: Prosper with thy blessing, we beseech thee, the work of our National Cathedral; that they who minister or worship therein may offer unto thee true and laudable service, for thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’
(adapted from ‘Parish Prayers’ by Frank Colquhoun)