Diocesan News16 Dec 15

Death of Mr Fred Rankin

Mr Fred Rankin, who served the diocese as Honorary Lay Secretary of the Diocesan Council from 2001–2012 has died. The funeral service will be at 10.30 am on Saturday 19 December in Drumbo Parish Church, Ballylesson, where he had worshipped for more than 30 years.

Fred had a career in the pharmaceuticals industry but was also an active layperson in the Church of Ireland and a keen genealogist and historian. He wrote, among other things, a history of Down Cathedral and more recently, made a vital contribution to the Down and Dromore section of ‘The Church of Ireland: An Illustrated History’.

Bishop Harold said: “Fred Rankin served the Diocese of Down and Dromore and the wider Church of Ireland (especially the RCB) faithfully and well over many years. He held so many posts it would be impossible to list them all, but was especially valued in his role as a diocesan honorary secretary. Fred also wrote a fine and very popular history of Down Cathedral, and provided the parish histories for the Ulster Historical Foundations volume on the Clergy of Down and Dromore. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Kathleen, and children Susan, Gillian, Neil and Simon at this time.” 

Service in the wider Church of Ireland:

– Fred was first elected to General Synod in 1988 and stepped down in 2005

– Member of Representative Body (Diocese of Down & Dromore) 1989–2004

– Member of RB Executive Committee 1993–2002, including Chair 1999–2002

– RB Library and Archives Committee 1993–2006, including Chair 1993–1999

– Member of RB Audit Committee 1997–1999