• 15 November 2006

Rowan Williams to preach at service for Robin Eames

Dr Rowan Williams
Dr Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams will preach at a major thanksgiving service to mark the twenty-year Primacy of the Most Revd Dr Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh in St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh on Thursday 16 November 2006. The service will be attended by distinguished representatives of Church and State from both sides of the border.

Amongst those who will be present for the service will be the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Sean Brady, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland the Rt Revd Dr David Clarke and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Ivan McElhinney, all of whom will read prayers during the service. The service will also be attended by the current and retired Bishops of the Church of Ireland as well as representatives of other Churches in the Anglican Communion.

Dr Robin Eames
Dr Robin Eames
Archbishop Eames was ordained a Deacon in 1963 and a Priest in 1964. He initially served as Curate in Bangor and subsequently as Rector of Gilnahirk and Rector of Dundela. In May 1975, he was elected Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and was consecrated the following month. In April 1980, he was elected Bishop of Down and Dromore. He was elected Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland on 7 February 1986. At the General Synod in May 2006, he announced his intention to retire on 31 December 2006. He has also served in many positions in the Anglican Communion. He was Chairman of the Commission on "Communion and Women in the Episcopate" (The Eames Commission) from 1988 to 1989 at the invitation of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie. He also served as Chairman of the Commission on Communion and Relationships between Provinces (The Lambeth Commission) from 2003 to 2004 at the request of the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.