Press Releases
NEW RECTOR IN SOUTH LEITRIM
The Reverend Bill Atkins was tonight instituted as incumbent of a group of ten parishes in south Leitrim by the Rt Rev Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.
The service in St Mary’s Church, Mohill was attended by civic representatives and local church leaders as well as by members of the various congregations in the South Leitrim Group of Parishes.
The special preacher was Archdeacon Andrew Foster who described the occasion as an opportunity to renew our Christian vision and mission.
David Meikle, Drumshanbo Parish, Doreen Petrie, Farnaught Parish and Patricia Woods, Mohill Parish read the lessons. In attendance were the churchwardens of St Mary’s, Stanley Scott and Jean Humphries.
Bill Atkins was ordained in the Church of England in 1986. His first curacy was in Derby and he later moved to an inner city parish in London. In recent years he has been associate chaplain in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf serving in the United Arab Emerites.
Bill is married to Jamila, who hails from Pakistan, and among the guests at his Institution were his mother, Mrs Margaret Atkins, London, and Pervez and Venus Malikh from his previous parish in Sharjah (UAE).
Speaking at a reception in St Mary’s church hall, Bishop Clarke thanked everyone involved in providing such lavish hospitality and for making the new Rector and his family so welcome. He also paid tribute to the Rev Cecil Lindsay, NSM, for all his hard work in looking after the Group during the vacancy.
The South Leitrim Group of Parishes is in the Diocese of Ardagh and includes the parishes of Mohill, Farnaught, Aughavas, Oughteragh, Drumrielly, Kiltubride, Fenagh, Annaduff, Kiltoghart, and Drumshanbo.
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