History made as Ecumenical Canons installed
History was made on Palm Sunday, 28th March, when the first ever Ecumenical Canons of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast were installed.
In a service of Evensong which included music from the Presbyterian and Methodist traditions as well as the Anglican, the Dean, the Very Revd Dr Houston McKelvey, said, 'The members of the Cathedral Chapter were delighted when the Revd Wilfred Orr and the Revd Ivan McElhinney accepted our invitation. Both our new canons have exemplary records of inter-church dialogue and practice, and both represent the very best of their own denomination's standards and values in ordained ministry.'
The Revd Wilfred Orr is Minister of St John's Presbyterian Church, Newtownbreda, Belfast, and the Revd Ivan McElhenney, a former President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, is Minister of Joanmount Methodist Church, Belfast. The new Ecumenical Canons were presented by the Ven. Philip Patterson, Archdeacon of Down who is the Chancellor of the cathedral, and the Ven. Barry Dodds, Archdeacon of Belfast who is the Precentor of the cathedral. Also taking part in the service was the Very Revd Dr Hugh Kennedy of St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast, the partner Cathedral of St Anne's.