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SPORTING BISHOP PREACHES AT CONSECRATION SERVICE
A former international swimmer was the special preacher today at the consecration of Bishop Ken Good as the new bishop of Derry and Raphoe.
The consecration service in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh was conducted by Archbishop Robin Eames, the Primate of All Ireland, and the presenting bishops were the Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare, and the Rt Rev Dr Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.
The preacher was the Rt Rev Derek Eaton, Bishop of Nelson, New Zealand, a prominent sportsman and former member of the national swimming team.
Bishop Ken Good first met Bishop Eaton when he visited New Zealand during his sabbatical last November.
Bishop Good said: “I was most impressed with the Bishop’s imaginative vision for growth and his skills in leadership. He has been very influential in encouraging clergy and select vestries to have specific strategies for growth, and since 1990 there has been an overall increase of almost 50% in the church attendance. Nelson Diocese is a fascinating part of the Anglican Communion, and one from which I believe we can all learn much. I was delighted when Archbishop Eames invited Derek to preach at my consecration today.”
Bishop Ken Good, 49, succeeds the Rt Rev James Mehaffey who has retired. He was educated at Cork Grammar School and Middleton College, County Cork and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and Nottingham University. He trained for the ordained ministry in St John’s College, Nottingham.
He was ordained Deacon in 1977 and Priest in 1978 and served as Curate in Willowfield Parish, Belfast. From 1979 to 1984 he was Chaplain and Head of RE in Ashton Comprehensive School, Cork. He was Rector of Dunganstown Union, Glendalough Diocese (1984-90) and Rector of Shankill Parish, Lurgan (1990-2002). He was made Archdeacon of Dromore in 1997.
Bishop Ken is married to Mary who comes from Seattle, USA. They have three children: Jennifer, Peter and Andrew. He enjoys golf and represented Munster schools at hockey and cricket.
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