A team from Holywood Parish visited the charity Asha in Delhi in November 2015.

The church has a long history of supporting the work of the charity, and has hosted visits from Dr. Kiran Martin, its founder.

You can follow the team’s progress via their blog: holywoodparishchurch.co.uk/asha

In our 2012 year of mission, A Place in God’s World, a team travelled to Zakhira, above, to see first hand the support the charity gives to women and children in the community. You can learn more about the work of Asha in this video from 2012:

Rev’d Gareth Harron was instituted as incumbent by Bishop Harold Miller on Monday 9th November.

Bishop Ken Clarke delivered a sermon at the service held in St. Philip and St. James.

Gareth writes:

I grew up, not too far away, in Bangor, so North Down is not a new and undiscovered country to me. As a keen birdwatcher (not as dull as it is made out to be) I used to walk the coastal path from Carnalea to Holywood very regularly when I was a teenager and student.

I studied Modern History and English at Queens before going down to Dublin to Theological college in 1992. That direct route from a primary degree into ministry formation is not as common as it once was but I was ordained at the tender age of 24 when, working in Willowfield Parish, people wondered if I was a “proper” minister or someone on work experience!

Moving on from Belfast, I served a second curacy in the Cathedral parish in Dromore. It was during this period that I married Ruth and we are very much a partnership in ministry. I really do not know where I would be without her faithful love and support. We are blessed with a family of 2 girls and one boy.

We are looking forward so much to writing new chapters among you in the coming months. I take very seriously the trust that your team of nominators has placed in me and thank them and the Diocesan team again for the incredible privilege of the opportunity to serve among you as a parish family.

– Gareth, Ruth and family

We welcome Gareth, Ruth, Annabel, Olivia and Isaac into our church family and look forward together.

Gallery:

Canon Gareth Harron, rector of Magheralin and Dollingstown, has been appointed as our new incumbent.

He will be instituted on Monday 9th November at 8p.m..

Here is a message sent as news of his appointment broke on Monday 27th July:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

It’s great to be able to send you greetings after the weekend’s announcements.

I confess that I was very emotional when I passed on the news to congregations here in Magheralin and Dollingstown yesterday.

After over 13 years, we have become deeply invested and committed to parish life here. Our children, Annabel, Olivia and Isaac were all born during our time in Magheralin; we have known God’s blessing in so many ways and we have got to know the people here as our Church family. It will be a wrench for us all to leave.

However, in God’s timing, a number of things have fallen into place to give Ruth and me a clear sense of God’s peace about the forthcoming move for us as a family. I appreciate very much the significant trust placed in me by your parochial (and the diocesan) nominators and thank them for it.

I am very much looking forward to the privilege of serving among you and getting to know you well. I hope that there will soon be some clarity about dates and assure you of our prayers.

Yours in Christ
Gareth