Press Releases
NEW DEAN OF BELFAST
Canon Houston McKelvey, the General Synod Education Officer for Northern Ireland, is the new Dean-elect of Belfast.
Canon McKelvey,59, was educated at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He graduated from Queen's University, Belfast in 1965 with an honours degree in economic and political geography and with a Master of Arts in Education in 1988.
He was ordained in 1967 and served as curate-assistant in Dunmurry. He was Rector of St Hilda's Parish, Dunmurry from 1970 to 1982. He has been in his present post since 1982.
Canon McKelvey has wide experience of broadcasting and journalism. He has contributed to many BBC television and radio programmes at regional and national level. He is a former editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette (1975 - 82). In 1999 he was instrumental in formulating the Church of Ireland's Children's Charter and is author of a commentary on it entitled "God, Our Children and Us".
He has originated and developed several websites including the 'Faith in Schools' website.
He is a member of various voluntary and public service bodies. He is chairman of the Northern Ireland Education Forum and a member of the Department of Education working party on the promotion of a culture of tolerance in schools.
Canon McKelvey is married to Roberta who is presently in the Sudan as a member of a Mothers Union literacy development project team. They have one son, John.
The arrangements for the new Dean's Institution and Installation will be announced later.
Further information from:
THE CHURCH OF IRELAND PRESS OFFICE
Church of Ireland House
61 - 67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH
Tel: (028) 9023 2909
Fax: (028) 9032 3554
Email:The Press Office