Former Grand Chaplain celebrates 50th anniversary of his Ordination
Former Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the Rev Gerry Sproule, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Ordination in June.
Gerry joined LOL No 1377 in the Dublin and Wicklow district in 1945. Currently a member of Listullycurran LOL No 616 and Deputy District Chaplain of Lower Iveagh District No 1, he stood down as Grand Chaplain at a meeting of Grand Orange Lodge in December 2009.
Gerry was ordained for the ministry on 26th June 1960 and after serving as curate of Monaghan Parish for 19 months, he became rector of Cleenish Parish in Bellanaleck village, close to the shores of Lough Erne and later Ballinamallard (Co Fermanagh). After some time with the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMF) he returned to parish work as rector of St Aidan’s (Sandy Row, Belfast) and more recently as rector of the grouped parish of Saint John the Evangelist, Magherally and Christ Church, Annaclone from which he retired in July 1994. Gerry now lives in Lisburn and is a regular attender at all meetings and events hosted by Lower Iveagh District No 1.
Revd Sproule is pictured above with a card he received from The Rt Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, congratulating him on reaching the important milestone of the 50th anniversary of his Ordination.
(Photograph and article courtesy of John Kelly)