• 31 May 2012

Knocknamuckley rector is elected Suffragan Bishop in Arctic Diocese

Revd Darren McCartney, rector of Knocknamuckley in the Diocese of Down and Dromore, has been elected suffragan (assistant) Bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic.

Darren was ordained in the diocese of the Arctic in 2003 and together with his wife Karen, served in Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, in Arctic Canada as Crosslinks missionaries. He ministered in St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Pangnirtung before returning to Northern Ireland in 2006. 

Darren, who said he was, “deeply humbled” by his election, has worked as an army chaplain and served as a curate in St. Nicholas’, Carrickfergus, in the Diocese of Connor.

The Right Revd Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, was able to congratulate Darren in a personal phone call today.

“I am absolutely thrilled to hear of the election of Darren McCartney as Suffragan Bishop of the Arctic,” he said. “Darren was ordained in the Arctic and exercised a very effective ministry there before returning to Northern Ireland.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife Karen on the occasion of his consecration on Trinity Sunday. We look forward to celebrating with him when he returns.

“May the rich blessings of God be on Darren’s episcopal ministry.”

Karen, is on her way to Canada and then the Arctic so that she can be present at the consecration. It takes place this Sunday 2 June in the brand new ‘Igloo Cathedral’ in Iqaluit (pictured below). The Synod meets only once every 4 years which is why the consecration will take place immediately.

Darren will not be taking up his role as Bishop until later in the year.

Igloo cathedral
Igloo cathedral