Alan Abernethy Explained

Alan Abernethy
Order:Bishop of Connor
Term Start:2007
Term End:2019
Birth Date:12 April 1957
Nationality:Irish
Alma Mater:Grosvenor High School, Belfast
Queen's University Belfast; Trinity College Dublin
Spouse:Liz née Forster

Alan Francis Abernethy[1] (born 12 April 1957)[2] is an Irish Anglican bishop, and former Bishop of Connor.[3]

Educated at Grosvenor High School, Belfast, Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, and ordained in 1981,[4] he began his ministry as Assistant Curate at St Elizabeth's, Dundonald.[5]

After a similar post at Lecale he was Officiating Chaplain at RAF Bishopscourt.[6] He was Rector at St John's, Helen's Bay, from 1987 to 1990[7] and then at St Columbanus, Ballyholme,[8] until his appointment to the episcopate in 2007.

In 2010 he faced calls that he resign in connection with the controversy relating to the coming to an end of the composer Philip Stopford's tenure as Director of Music at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.[9] [10] [11]

He retired in December 2019.[12]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.connordiocese.org.uk/index.cfm?id=40 Diocesan web site
  2. [Who's Who]
  3. http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=254 Anglican Communion
  4. [Crockford's clerical directory|Crockfords]
  5. http://dundonaldparish.blogspot.com/ Church web site
  6. Web site: Base history . 2011-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131017025732/http://www.rconnolly.utvinternet.com/history.htm . 2013-10-17 . dead .
  7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/johndmcdonald/3585211105/ flickr
  8. http://www.ballyholmeparish.co.uk/index.cfm?id=95 Church history
  9. News: 2010-08-18. Discord at St Anne's Cathedral over choir job. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-07-20.
  10. News: 'I loved being at the Westminster Abbey of Northern Ireland, but it's sad the way my time there ended'. en-GB. belfasttelegraph. 2021-07-20. 0307-1235.
  11. News: 2011-01-24. Cathedral takes ex-judge to court on choir job discord. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-07-20.
  12. Web site: Boyd . Joe . Consecration of Connor's New Bishop - Rt Rev George Davison . The Churchpage . 13 September 2022 . 9 September 2020.