Press Releases
Retirement of Cecil Wilson, CMS Ireland
Mission Pioneer Announces Retirement
After serving the call of mission with CMS Ireland for almost 32 years Canon Cecil Wilson has announced his retirement with effect from 31st August 2007.
Under his leadership CMS Ireland pioneered a vision of ‘partnership in mission’ that today sees the Society and Cecil himself held in the highest regard by the Church in many parts of the world.
An innovative and creative leader Cecil’s desire to stretch the boundaries of contemporary mission thinking has ensured that CMS Ireland has been on a continuing journey in recent years and today strives to remain at the forefront of mission practice.
Ian Smith who succeeded Cecil as Director of Mission in June 2007 pays tribute to his predecessor and long-term friend:
“In wishing him a long and fruitful retirement I am very conscious that I am following in the footsteps of a faithful servant of the Gospel who lives what he preaches, and who has been in for the long haul. He has never gone in for 'quick fix' solutions. His strategic vision has seen CMS Ireland come through times of difficulty as well as calm, and I am grateful for the solid foundations that he has built.”
Cecil has been invaluable to the life of CMS Ireland over the past three decades - ensuring that the Society has remained a blessing to the Church in Ireland and around the World. His colleagues and CMS Ireland’s global partners now wish him every blessing in his retirement.
Full text relating to this story is available from:
For more information please contact:
Rachel Manogue (Communications Coordinator, CMS Ireland)
E-mail or 028 90775020
CMS Ireland is a Christian Mission and Development Agency, which has been working in partnership with the Church in Ireland and the Church overseas, for over 190 years, to share the Gospel throughout the world.
Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland House
61-67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH
Tel: (028) 9023 2909
Fax (028) 9032 3554