THE new Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore has said that the Church must reach out and spread the Christian message.
Speaking at his installation service in Down Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, the Right Rev David McClay said Jesus Christ died on the cross for everyone and that the Church had a responsibility to teach the world of God.
“We are charged to take His message out into the world, to our towns, villages, townlands and beyond,” he said. “We have a responsibility to teach God’s word to those who are not here today.”
The service was attended by clergy and lay readers from throughout the Down and Dromore diocese.
Also in attendance were clergy from other denominations, including Fr John Murray, Downpatrick parish priest, and Canon Sean Rogan, a former parish priest in the town.
Also present were the Rev Dr Heather Morris, a former president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and Abbot Mark-Ephraim and Fr Eric from the Benedictine Holy Cross Abbey in Rostrevor.
Among the dignitaries were the Lord Lieutenant for Co Down, Mr David Lindsay,
Baroness Margaret Ritchie, Strangford MP Jim Shannon, MLAs Colin McGrath and Michelle McIlveen, Newry, Mourne and Down Council vice-chairman Terry Andrews and local councillors Dermot Curran, Cadogan Enright and Oonagh Hanlon.
Welcoming everyone to the service, the Dean of Down, the Very Rev Henry Hull, said that as the burial site of St Patrick and a place of Christian worship for 800 years, Down Cathedral was a special place.
The service began with Bishop McClay ceremonially striking his pastoral staff on the west door of the cathedral to gain admittance.
The mandate of the Archbishop of Armagh for the enthronement was read by the Rev Simon Doogan, Diocesan Registrar.
In a challenging address, Bishop McClay said “one size no longer fitted all” and that the Church needed to reach out.
“Our society today has so many people with no meaningful connection with a church,” he said.
“There is no community where the Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot change lives. We have got to find ways that we are teaching it to fewer empty pews.”