Election of Ecumenical Canon to St Anne’s
The Dean and Chapter of St Anne’s Cathedral have appointed the Revd Ruth Patterson, as a Methodist ecumenical canon in succession to the Revd Brian Fletcher who has retired. No date has been set yet for the installation.
Dean of Belfast, The Very Revd John Mann said:
“I was delighted by Ruth’s appointment at the election last Wednesday morning, and I am quite certain that she will contribute to the life of the cathedral from her experience of serving Methodist congregations in Belfast and in ecumenical endeavours. We look forward to her installation in due course”
Biography
Ruth E Patterson B.Th., currently serves as the Methodist minister in Ballynafeigh Church, Ormeau Road and is Superintendent of the Ballynafeigh Circuit. Previously she served as a non–stipendiary minister in Donegall Road Church Belfast.
In both these appointments Ruth has worked closely with colleagues in other church traditions in particular through the Ballynafeigh Clergy Fellowship and the sharing of evening services with St Simon and St Philip’s church on the Donegall Road.
Ruth was educated at Fivemiletown High School and Methodist College Belfast. On leaving school she trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast. After qualifying she worked there as a clinical radiographer. Eventually specialising in Neuroradiography, before moving to a lecturer’s post at the University of Ulster.
In 2004 she received a Bachelor of Theology from Queens University Belfast and was ordained in 2006. She is married to Ian and they have two grown up sons.