Moving to Clogher...

Don't misunderstand the title...I am not for upping sticks from the Antrim Road for that Diocese which takes in Fermanagh and a bit of Tyrone, and probably some of Cavan too! But since the end of August it's begun to feel like a second home!

First I attended the institution of my good friend Gary McMurray, as Rector of Aghavea just outside Brookeborough (which was a double bonus because as well as a great service I got to visit my fave chip shop in Lisnaskea, which brought back loads of memories of Youth weekends in the Share Centre). Then a couple of weeks ago I went down to Enniskillen for the Ordination of John, Bishop of Clogher. I knew John a little from my last Diocese, where he was a Rector.

The Episcopal Ordination also had a couple of bonuses. I got to travel down with the Rev'd Alan McCormack and his Parents. Alan was my Chaplain and Greek Tutor when I was at trinity College in Dublin, and we renewed our acquaintance recently in Hong Kong (Alan remains connected to Hong Kong through the Dublin University Far East Mission). I gave a lift down to him and his parents...it was lovely to continue that contact. When I got there, before the service began I had dinner with another dear friend in ministry, James Boyd. James and his wife Shirley were great friends at trinity and Gary, James and I formed something of an unholy trinity sharing hot chocolate after a good day's work!

So that's two more times Enniskillen direction than I've been in nearly two years! And I've two more in the next week...because Gary and James are in the Diocese of St Macartin now!

Both chaps have invited me to preach at evening harvests, so I'm with Gary in Aghavea tomorrow evening and with James in Dromore, Co Tyrone next week. I'm really looking forward to meeting them in their parish contexts, to meeting the people among whom they minister and to spending some time with Gary and his wife Lynsey and with James, Shirley and their daughter Rebecca.

So it feels like I'm becoming semi-resident in Clogher...it's a pity I can't claim for a second residence!

I love harvest hymns, and harvest tea....so the people of the Diocese of Clogher should note that I have high expectations!!