Diocesan News
Parishioners Urged to Support their New Rector
Parishioners in the Parish of Glendermott with Newbuildings have been urged to ‘come on board’ with their new Rector, Rev Robert Boyd, who was instituted by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Ken Good, at a Service on Thursday evening.
The appeal was delivered to a packed Glendermott Parish Church by the preacher, Canon Neville Hughes. Among those in the congregation were the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, Londonderry’s Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Jean Davidson, and the new incumbent’s wife May and children Ellen and Reuben. Also present were a number of former curates at Glendermott, including Canon Walter Quill, who was ordained in the church almost 57 years ago. Dozens of members of Killyman Parish, where Rev Boyd had served as Rector for 12 years, travelled from South Tyrone to attend his institution.
Among those who took part in the Service of Institution was 98 year old Robert Mawhinney, who is one of Glendermott’s oldest parishioners. Mr Mawhinney presented the new Rector with a Bible.
Canon Hughes told the congregation he had known their new Rector for almost 30 years, since they had begun studying for the non–Stipendiary Ministry together back in 1988. “The big question on everyone’s lips”, he said was “‘What is this new man like?’”
Canon Hughes said the two men had ‘hit it off’ the moment they first met. “Robert was ordained a year before me in 1990. He officiated as an NSM curate in the parish of Derryloran in Cookstown. His friendliness, his approachability, his ability to get on with people soon became very evident to the parishioners in Derryloran.”
He said Rev Boyd – who had been a Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh and honorary secretary of Armagh Diocesan Synod and Council – had been ‘round a few corners’ and that he came to Glendermott and Newbuildings with a great deal of experience outside the church and with a variety of experience inside the church.
“But what of Robert the man?” he asked. “What’s Robert the dad like? What’s Robert the husband like? Well, feel free to ask May and Reuben and Ellen” he joked. “But what I can tell you about is this: Robert the Rector. You’ll find that he is hard–working; he’s not afraid to roll his sleeves up; he’s not afraid to get involved. And I’m sure, good people, you’d expect me to say he’s a man of integrity, he’s trustworthy, and he’s a man who will do his very best and will give of his very best to these parishes of Glendermott and Newbuildings.
“He will be there for you,” Canon Hughes told the congregation. “He will draw alongside you as a faithful friend when there is sickness or when you’re going through difficult times. He will laugh with you and he will be with you in times of joy and in times of great gladness. You’ll find he’s good craic and he won’t let you down. You can depend upon him. And you can depend upon his word. And that’s Robert.”
Canon Hughes warned the congregation that Rev Boyd would need their help and will want to involve them in ministry. “We all have a part to play. We all have gifts that we can give. We all have strengths that we can give to the ministry in these parishes. So be prepared to be asked and be prepared to come on board with him and join him on a journey, a journey that will take you to what God wants and He wants you to be.”
Canon Hughes appealed to the parishioners of Glendermott and Newbuildings to support their new Rector through their attendance in church and through words of encouragement. “He’s going to need your support. So be here on a Sunday for him. Come and support him. As he seeks to bring God’s word to you, you be here for him.”
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
[email protected]