Diocesan News21 Sep 15

New Rector for Faughanvale

Left to right: Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven David Huss; Rector of Faughanvale, Rev Paul Hoey; Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good; Canon David Creighton (Rural Dean); and Archdeacon of Derry, Ven Robert Miller

There were joyful scenes in Eglinton on Friday evening as Rev Paul Hoey was instituted as Rector of Faughanvale, ending a two and a half year vacancy in the parish.

It was an evening of mixed emotions for the congregation in St Canice’s Church: optimism among the people of Faughanvale who looked forward to the future with hope; and sadness for those who had travelled from Rev Hoey’s former parish, Clondevaddock, and were losing a hugely popular rector.

The mood of expectation in Faughanvale was captured at a reception afterwards by the Rector’s Church Warden, Willie Robb. Acknowledging the widespread problem of declining church attendances, Mr Robb assured the new incumbent that they weren’t expecting miracles, “although I have been told you have performed a few in your day”. Describing himself as a “fan of the mother tongue”, the Church Warden wished Rev Hoey “Fáilte romhat” – which means ‘welcome’ in English.

Earlier, in his sermon, the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss, said he felt like a football manager whose player had been transferred to another club. He wondered what transfer fee had been paid to “lure Paul away” across the Foyle, from the Raphoe Diocese and the great county of Donegal.

Archdeacon Huss said the arrival of a new rector was a time of great change and great stress for both parishioners and clergy. There was laughter when he said that he had known some rectors who had literally torn out their hair; “That won’t be a problem on this occasion”.

The preacher told parishioners that – as they moved into the Year of Opportunity, with its focus on ‘mission, generosity and children’s ministry’ – their new rector would preach, pray and pastor, but he would also push. “Paul will be here to gently push people into new goals, to take new opportunities in the parish”. Archdeacon Huss felt it could be a moment of “ripe opportunity” for Faughanvale if its parishioners were willing to be “pushed just a little” to do the Lord’s work.

After the service, people gathered in the nearby parish hall to hear Canon David Creighton welcome Rev Hoey to the Rural Deanery.

A former parishioner from Condevaddock, William Carre, told the audience that the only flaw in their new rector’s character was that he was a Liverpool supporter. Mr Carre urged them to go along with “whatever hare–brained scheme” the incumbent came up with because “Rev Paul would be giving it 110%”.

Faughanvale Presbyterian minister, Rev Lindsay Blair, provoked good–humoured ‘heckling’ when he pointed out a Presbyterian element in the service earlier.

He reassured the Rev Hoey about the state of community relations in the community, especially among the main Christian churches. “Our community has suffered in the past but we want to move forward in the future”.

Bishop Ken Good said institutions were emotional occasions. There was sadness among the people of Clondevaddock, to whom Rev Hoey had given his heart and soul. And there was a sense of excitement, anticipation and trepidation in Faughanvale. The Bishop addressed the people of Faughanvale directly, urging them to support their new rector.

“I am challenging you and telling you and encouraging you that you will see growth in this parish. The Lord will bring it, Paul will facilitate it, and you will be pushed towards it.”

Rev Hoey told his new parishioners that the Clondevaddock people would tell them he specialised in truly terrible jokes in his sermons and sometimes even worse poetry – “poems which are more Pam Ayres than Shakespeare”.

He said he was already beginning to feel at home in the parish but felt very inadequate for the task ahead. The Rector said he would value parishioners’ prayers very much because without the power of God’s Holy Spirit they would achieve nothing.