Diocesan News21 Oct 14

Six New Diocesan Readers For Derry And Raphoe

From left: Georgina Armstrong, Maureen Williams, Paddy Quinn, Bishop Ken Good, Claire Henderson, Linda Hughes, Anne Speers

The Dean of Raphoe, Very Revd Arthur Barrett hosted a Service of Commissioning on the 19th October for six new Diocesan Lay Readers in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Raphoe.

The Warden of Readers, Canon Derek Quinn presented Georgina Armstrong, Claire Henderson, Linda Hughes, Paddy Quinn, Anne Speers and Maureen Williams to Bishop Ken Good, declaring them to be ready and fit to undertake the office of Lay Reader in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.

A very large congregation of family, friends and well wishers filled the Cathedral to capacity. The Archdeacon of Derry, Venerable Robert Miller was the preacher. He encouraged those who were embarking on this new ministry to be faithful in prayer and in the study of God’s word; he also suggested that the impact of their message should first be felt in their own lives, and reminded them that people are not only influenced by a preacher’s sermons but also by the manner in which they live.

Diocesan Readers are lay people who have been selected, trained and licensed by the Bishop to preach, teach and lead worship in a pastoral context. There are 300 Diocesan Readers in the Church of Ireland, 32 of whom serve in Derry and Raphoe.

The Bishop, Rt Revd Ken Good, added, ‘To licence six readers is a significant event for the diocese. I have closely followed the progress of Georgina, Claire, Linda, Paddy, Anne and Maureen as they have gone through their selection and training and I am delighted to commission them for the journey ahead. I warmly congratulate them and I encourage them to persevere in preaching the Gospel “in season and out”’.