Diocesan News27 May 13

New Archdeacon of Down

David was ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1988. He served as Curate Assistant in the parish of Magheralin (Diocese of Dromore) from 1987–1990 and was incumbent of Kilkeel (Dromore) from 1990–2001. 

David became incumbent of Willowfield Parish Belfast (Diocese of Down) in May 2001 to the present date, during which time the church has gone through significant change and growth. He is Chair of the Board of Willowfield Parish Community Association, which was set up by the parish in 2002 to work in the local east Belfast area which has significant social problems. David was appointed a Canon of St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast in 2004 and is a member of the Cathedral Board. He is a member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. He was formerly an Under 45 clerical member of Standing Committee, a member of the Church in Society Committee and Chair of the Social Justice and Theology Group (NI). He is the author of “Go and Do Likewise” (Church of Ireland Publishing 2005).

In 2011 David became Diocesan Clerical Honorary Secretary and part of the Secretariat. He is a Diocesan Nominator, a member of Diocesan Council, of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Group, the Permanent Commission on Parochial Vacancies and the Diocesan Finance Committee. David leads New Wine Ireland, an organisation whose brief is to stimulate mission and growth in churches across Ireland, with the mission statement “Local Churches changing Nations.” He works closely with clergy and various groups from churches across Ireland to help stimulate church growth and spiritual development, and hosts a summer holiday week in Sligo attended by approx 1000 people from all over Ireland.He is currently a member of the Northern Ireland Faith Forum and a member of the Belfast Inner East Forum. He is also involved with the Church Pastoral Aid Society, Tearfund, Christians Against Poverty, and has mentored several Arrow participants. David married Irene (Coulter) in 1986 and was widowed in 1993. In 1996 he married Hilary (Saunders) and they have three children – Cherith (24), Ruth (19) and Jordan (14).