I’m grateful above all to God and to the work of his grace

I’m grateful above all to God and to the work of his grace

29 January 2020

THE new Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore has been ordained. The Right Rev David McClay — who succeeds Bishop Harold Miller —  was formally ordained at a special service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, last weekend.

The cathedral was filled to capacity as Bishop McClay was ordained by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke. 

Family members, representatives from the parishes of the diocese, friends and colleagues made the journey from all over Ireland, England and the United States for the service.

The Dean of Connor, the Very Rev Sam Wright, gave the address in which he recalled how he and Bishop McClay began theological college together 35 years ago and quickly became friends.

Turning to the question of what the new bishop was to do, Dean Wright took 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 as his text and the inspiration of a ‘brave, bright and beautiful gospel’.

He said: “It is clear from past experience that David will do many things, but I want to encourage him to keep to the main thing — to share the Good News of Jesus.

“And as the chief shepherd for the people of Down and Dromore Diocese to encourage, enable and equip the church, to bring this Good News to the world. In this era of scepticism and rejection by many of the Christian Gospel, he will need to be Brave, and to offer a Bright and Beautiful Gospel to all.”

Dean Wright said that in both his life and in his sharing of Christ, the new bishop had “courageously sought” to change lives through his teaching and explanation of the word of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“David has been a champion for the poor. He has spoken out against violence when it would have been easier to stay silent. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:4 are as true today as ever — ‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see light of the gospel.’ It takes courage to shine out the gospel into the darkness of the world. David, in your new role, be brave.”

The Dean reminded the congregation that the ordination was taking place on the Feast Day of the Conversion of St Paul. 

Addressing the bishop-elect he said: “As you find yourself dealing with the people and issues of a large diocese, recall your own conversion experience and how God’s bright light broke into the darkness of your life. Flooding people’s lives with the hope found in the good news of the gospel, bringing out the God-colours into the world. 

That is to be your primary aim as a Bishop.”

The sermon was followed by the Rite of Ordination and for the ordination prayer and laying on of hands, Archbishop Clarke was joined by other bishops, the Methodist President and former Presidents. 

The new bishop was then vested in his robes and given a Bible before being presented to the congregation who greeted him with loud, sustained applause. The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, then installed Bishop McClay in his cathedral stall. 

 At the reception which followed in Ulster University’s Birley Building, Bishop McClay expressed his thanks to all those who had taken part in the service, his parents and family and the many people who had travelled a distance to be there.

Bishop McClay said he looked forward to building on the work of two predecessors, Bishop Harold Miller and Bishop Gordon McMullan, who he had been “privileged” to serve under.

He added: “I’m very grateful for all that they have put in place by way of a heritage to build upon. But I’m grateful above all to God and to the work of his grace.”

 Among the dignitaries and Church leaders who attended the service were Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle; the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Revd Sam McGuffin; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Eamon Martin; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rt Rev Dr William Henry; the Bishop of Down and Connor, the Most Rev Noel Treanor; the former Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of the Arctic, the Right Rev Darren McCartney; the Bishop of Albany, the Right Rev William Love; and representatives from the Benedictine Community of the Holy Cross Monastery in Rostrevor.