Former town man Bryan takes over as rector at leading parish

The Mayor of Lisburn Councillor Margaret Tolerton, pictured with the Rt Rev Harold Miller (Bishop of Down and Dromore), the Rev Dr Bryan Follis (new rector of Hillsborough Parish) and the Rev John Auchmuty (Area Dean).

The Rt Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, welcomed Revd Dr Bryan Follis into the Diocese at a service of institution on Saturday. March 15.

He succeeds the Rev Ferran Glenfield who was instituted as rector of Hillsborough Parish in May 2012 and left in May 2013 when he became Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.

The preacher at the service was the Rev Canon Terence Cadden, who has known Bryan since his days as a parishioner in Shankill Parish when Terence was a curate there.

The Mayor of Lisburn Councillor Margaret Tolerton, pictured with the Rev Dr Bryan Follis (new rector of Hillsborough Parish) and his wife Eleanor.

Bryan is married to Eleanor, who works part-time as a community midwife in Belfast; they have two daughters, Esther (12) and Rachel (10).

Speaking about his new parish, Dr Follis said, “Of course I feel rather nervous as I take over as rector but we are thankful for the prayers of so many. As a family we really look forward to settling into our home, putting down roots in the community and getting to know individual parishioners.

“Those we have met so far have already helped us feel very welcome to Hillsborough!”

Previously Bryan  was Rector of All Saints’ Church, Belfast near Queen’s University.

Rev Dr Bryan Follis
New rector of Hillsborough Parish. — Rev Dr Bryan Follis New rector of Hillsborough Parish.

He served there for 13 years during which time the church enjoyed steady growth year on year.

All Saints’ Church drew in new people from a wide range of social backgrounds and from various ages: students, young families and pensioners.

Central to Bryan’s approach to ministry is expository preaching with an emphasis on applying the Bible to all of life.

He also places a high value on building a meaningful sense of church community. Before his appointment to All Saints’, he served as Curate in St Mark’s, Portadown for almost three years.

Rev Dr Bryan Follis, the new rector of Hillsborough Parish, pictured with his wife Eleanor and their daughters Esther and Rachel.

He was ordained in June 1998 by the then Archbishop Robert Eames. Prior to his ordination, Bryan worked with the Northern Ireland Civil Service for 11 years.

In addition to his regular parish ministry, Dr Follis has written two academic books along with a number of booklets aimed at the ‘person in the pew’. One of these on ‘Depression and Stress’ has sold widely and been used by a number of churches to help people struggling with depression.

Having served in Armagh and Connor Diocese, this is Bryan’s first appointment in Down and Dromore.