Installation of the Archdeacon of Down at Down Cathedral
“Up on your feet!” was the call to family, friends, colleagues and parishioners past and present at the Archdeacon of Down’s service of installation at Down Cathedral on 20 September.
The invited preacher was the rector of St Paul’s Ealing, Revd Mark Meluish (pictured right). Mark is part of the New Wine Network and a long time friend of David’s. He ministers in the Diocese of London which has publicly declared its intention to plant 100 churches in the next 7 years.
“What might you do?” he asked in his address. “What new communities, what new expressions of Christ might you release into your community? What news ways might you find of presenting the good news of Christ in a way that people can connect with it?”
These were fitting questions as Bishop Harold has charged Archdeacon McClay with developing ministry in the diocese, finding new young leaders, and enabling church planting. At the Bishop’s Bible Week we launched the ‘plant forHim’ appeal (Down and Dromore Church Planting Fund) so that we can forge ahead in these areas, including training for diocesan evangelists and church planters. As of 20 September the fund total stands at £63,000 and Bishop Harold expressed his hope and prayer that the £100,000 target would be reached by Christmas.
The service was a joyful occasion led by Dean Henry Hull with participation from David’s family and friends and musicians from Willowfield Parish. Both the Dean and the Archdeacon paid tribute to the former Archdeacon of Down, Philip Patterson, who died in May of this year. “Philip loved mission,” said David, “and that’s my heart as well…We as a church must stand up and live under the authority of God’s word and go out in the power of God’s spirit to win a world for Jesus.”
View some photos in the gallery here.
The Ven David McClay’s Curriculum Vitae
David was ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1988. He served as Curate Assistant in the parish of Magheralin (Diocese of Dromore) from 1987–1990 and was incumbent of Kilkeel (Dromore) from 1990–2001.
David became incumbent of Willowfield Parish Belfast (Diocese of Down) in May 2001 to the present date, during which time the church has gone through significant change and growth. He is Chair of the Board of Willowfield Parish Community Association, which was set up by the parish in 2002 to work in the local east Belfast area which has significant social problems.
David was appointed a Canon of St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast in 2004 and is a member of the Cathedral Board. He is a member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. He was formerly an Under 45 clerical member of Standing Committee, a member of the Church in Society Committee and Chair of the Social Justice and Theology Group (NI). He is the author of “Go and Do Likewise” (Church of Ireland Publishing 2005).
In 2011 David became Diocesan Clerical Honorary Secretary and part of the Secretariat. He is a Diocesan Nominator, a member of Diocesan Council, of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Group, the Permanent Commission on Parochial Vacancies and the Diocesan Finance Committee.
David leads New Wine Ireland, an organisation whose brief is to stimulate mission and growth in churches across Ireland, with the mission statement “Local Churches changing Nations.” He works closely with clergy and various groups from churches across Ireland to help stimulate church growth and spiritual development, and hosts a summer holiday week in Sligo attended by approx 1000 people from all over Ireland.
He is currently a member of the Northern Ireland Faith Forum and a member of the Belfast Inner East Forum. He is also involved with the Church Pastoral Aid Society, Tearfund, Christians Against Poverty, and has mentored several Arrow participants.
David married Irene (Coulter) in 1986 and was widowed in 1993. In 1996 he married Hilary (Saunders) and they have three children – Cherith (24), Ruth (19) and Jordan (14).