Diocesan News
Three New Priests Ordained in Connor Diocese
Three new priests were ordained in Connor Diocese by the Bishop of Connor at a service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Sunday September 6.
The Revd Julie Bell was ordained for the Parish of Christ Church, Lisburn; the Revd Philip Benson was ordained for the Parish of Larne and Inver; and the Revd Cameron Jones was ordained for the Parish of Carrickfergus.
The preacher at the Service was the Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe.
Julie served her internship in Glenavy Parish. Born and raised in Belfast, she studied music at Queen’s University, completing a BMus and an MA, in which she specialised in violin performance and performance practice research. She was leader of the Ulster Youth Orchestra and later worked as organist and director of music in Bangor Parish and then in Hillsborough Parish.
Julie was ordained deacon in September 2014 and served her internship in Glenavy Parish. She is a member of the Church of Ireland Liturgical Advisory Committee, and worked on the sub–committee which prepared ‘Thanks and Praise,’ a supplement to the Church Hymnal which was published earlier this year.
The Bishop of Connor the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, with new priests, from left: the Revd Cameron Jones, the Revd Julie Bell and, far right, the Revd Philip Benson.
Philip, who served his internship in Grouped Parishes of Finaghy and Upper Malone, is from Bangor. He was a pupil at RBAI and later studied theology at Queen’s University, Belfast.
After graduating Philip worked for Goldsmiths Jewellers while completing a theology Master’s Degree part–time. He was later a full time youth worker at St Gall’s Carnalea before training for ordination. His internship was in the Grouped Parishes of Finaghy and Upper Malone.
The newly ordained Connor priests with the Bishop of Connor and the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe (preacher) and other clergy at the service of ordination in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on September 6.
Cameron was born in Sydney, Australia. He attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and studied at the University of Sydney, receiving a BA in Studies of Religion, Sociology and Education and then a Diploma of Biblical Studies at Moore Theological College.
He worked in telecommunications for 13 years, but retained his passion for his church, personal evangelism and lay church leadership.
In October 2005 he was employed by a Church of England parish in Hampshire as assistant minister, and in 2008 began serving as Lay Curate at All Saints, Belfast, Committed to long–term ministry in Ireland, after training Cameron served his internship at St Nicholas’ Church, Carrickfergus
For further information contact Karen Bushby, Connor Diocesan Communications Officer, on 028 9082 8874 or 07766 103880 or email [email protected]
For further information please contact:
Connor Diocesan Communications Officer
Contact Details
Karen Bushby
028 4066 0798
07766103880
[email protected]