New rector is instituted in Drumbeg Parish

The preacher at the service was Revd Trevor Johnston (Ireland Team Leader of Crosslinks). The Mayor of Lisburn, Alderman William Leathem and Mr Basil McCrea MLA for Lagan Valley, also attended along with local clergy.

Willie is a native of Co Fermanagh and grew up in the Parish of Magheracross in the Diocese of Clogher. He was educated at Ballinamallard Primary School, Gloucester House Preparatory School and Portora Royal School before studying Agriculture at Reading.

Willie then joined his parents on the family dairy farm where he enjoyed life as a 0farmer for four years. After responding to a call to ordained ministry, which he had first sensed aged 16, Willie read Theology at Trinity College Dublin; was ordained deacon in 2000 and priest in 2001.

He served as curate–assistant both at St Paul’s Parish, Lisburn and then at the Parish Church of St Malachy, Hillsborough. He worked as a church planter alongside Emmanuel Church in the Diocese of Edinburgh before returning to Northern Ireland and the incumbency of Killaney and Carryduff.

Willie’s passion is teaching the Scriptures and reaching beyond the Church in mission. He will continue as Dean of the Dufferin Area Deanery and as the Church of Ireland Prison Chaplain at Hydebank Wood Women’s Prison and Young Offenders Centre, a role he very much enjoys.

He looks forward to being able to proclaim Jesus, who is both Lord and Christ, in Drumbeg, alongside these other areas of interest in his service of Jesus.