New Rector for Clooney

He is the successor to Rev Malcolm Ferry, who took over the reins at St Augustine’s Church in the Cityside last year.

Rev Ferry moved across to St Augustine’s in March, replacing Rt Rev Bishop Pat Storey.

Rev McBeth was supported by his wife, April, family and local politicians, including the Mayor, Brenda Stevenson. Also in attendance were parishioners from Dungiven and Bovevagh, where Rev McBeth had been rector for four years. Prior to that he worked in an Anglican church in the Diocese of Melbourne for three years having serving his curacy at Glendermott Parish Church with Canon Derek Creighton.

Among the other clergy who attended and supported Rev McBeth were Canon David Crooks, Diocesan Registrar; Venerable Robert Miller, Archdeacon of Derry; Rev Mervyn Peoples, NSM assistant curate Clooney; Very Rev William Morton, Dean of Derry; Rt Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe; Rev Carmen Hayes, Bishop’s Curate, and Canon Derek Creighton, the Rural Dean.

The preacher at the service was the Reverend Trevor Johnston, rector of All Saints Belfast, who spoke of Rev McBeth’s work ethics, pastoral heart and the driven nature of his willingness to work with and among people and went on to commended him and April to their prayers.

The first reading, by Kathryn Lindsay, Parish Reader, was Jeremiah 31: 31-37, and the second reading, by George Keys, parish Reader, was Acts 20: 17-35. The Gospel reading, by Rev Mervyn Peoples,was taken from John 1: 43-51.

The hymns were: ‘I, the Lord of sea and sky’, ‘How deep the Father’s love for us’, ‘In Christ alone my hope is found’ and ‘When we walk with the Lord’. The Psalm for the occasion was Psalm 23, ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd I’ll not want’ and the choir sang ‘King of kings, Majesty’ and the ‘Aaronic Blessing’.

The service was led and the congregation welcomed by the Bishop of Derry while the Archdeacon presented Rev McBeth for institution to the parish. During the Commission the new Rector was presented with a Bible, a container of water and the Book of Common Prayer, as well as bread and wine, the key of the church and a towel, symbolising the various duties of his role as rector during his time of service at Clooney.

At the end of the formal induction, Rev McBeth was led by the Bishop to his stall in the church, where Rev McBeth led his flock in prayer for the first time and asked for strength to sustain him in his ministry.

The Blessing before the recessional hymn, was performed by the Bishop.

The collection was taken up in aid of the Diocesan Ministry Fund.

After the service refreshments were served in the All Saints Centre, and speeches and words of welcome and thanks were made by parishioners from both Dungiven 
and Bovevagh, as well as and 
Rev McBeth’s new parish of Clooney.