New Area Dean for Lecale
Bishop David has appointed the Revd Dr Claire Aylward as Area Dean for Lecale in Down Diocese. Claire is Priest-in-charge of the Grouped Parishes of Kilmore and Inch.
Claire said of her appointment:
"It is an honour to be asked by Bishop David to be Area Dean of Lecale. Being relatively new to the Diocese of Down and Dromore and the Lecale Deanery, I only had the honour of knowing my predecessor Revd Adrian Dorrian for a short time. However, I am extremely grateful for his welcome and his ministry as Area Dean during my opening months here.
I look forward to working closely with my missionally minded colleagues in Lecale as part of this new role and ask for your prayers as I step into this new aspect of ministry.”
About Claire
Originally from Tipperary, Claire trained for ordination at St Mellitus College London, spending half her time on placement with One Church Harrow and the other half studying for a master’s in theology, ministry, and mission where her focus was on systematic theology, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity.
Claire served her curacy at St James Thorley, on the edge of Bishops Stortford (near Stansted airport) in the Diocese of St Alban’s in England. She became Priest-in-charge of Kilmore and Inch in October 2024.
We wish Claire every blessing in her new role.