New rector instituted at Kilmore and Inch
The Grouped Parishes of Kilmore and Inch welcomed their new rector, Revd Stephen Smyth, following his institution on 26 June 2012 in Inch Parish Church. The preacher at the service was Revd Ivan Dinsmore, rector of Ardstraw in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe, and a family friend (pictured right).
Stephen and his wife Debbie were both born in Zimbabwe of Scottish and Irish parentage respectively. They married in 1980 and emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa, where they brought up their three children, Jared, Kirsten and Adam.
Debbie is a trained general nurse and midwife but has spent most of her professional career working in operating theatres as a scrub sister.
On leaving university, Stephen joined the BSA Police in Rhodesia where he served for 3 years before pursuing a career in accountancy. Ordination followed in 1990 and ministry in two churches in South Africa: four years in Holy Trinity Bramley Johannesburg and thirteen years in St Andrews Church Cape Town.
Stephen is no stranger to the Diocese of Down and Dromore having arrived as curate in St Columbanus, Ballyholme in 2008. His former rector there, Canon Simon Doogan was delighted to be closely involved in the institution as Diocesan Registrar.
Speaking of his forthcoming ministry in Kilmore and Inch, Stephen said that he was “Very excited and looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities ahead.”
View a few photos in the gallery here.