A new rector for St Elizabeth's
Warmest congratulations to the Revd Ross Mungavin who has become rector of the Parish of Dundonald. Bishop David instituted Ross at a packed and joyful service in St Elizabeth’s on Friday 4 July. Revd Richard Balmer, Ireland Team Leader for Crosslinks, gave the address.
For Ross and his wife Emma, this is something of a homecoming. The 35-year-old grew up in Jordanstown. He was baptised and confirmed in St John’s Parish, Whitehouse, but came to faith through St Patrick’s Parish, Jordanstown, where he attended youth ministry. Following that, he and his wife, Emma, were members of St Elizabeth’s, where they were married, and where Emma was a ministry apprentice.
A past pupil of Belfast High School, Ross began a Degree in Law with Criminology at the University of Ulster, but later switched to the Open University, graduating with a Degree in English Literature in 2015.
He worked as a classroom assistant at Ashfield Girls’ High School and in a day care nursery in Ballyclare, before joining BCMS Crosslinks as a ministry apprentice where he served from 2011-2013, focusing on youth ministry and in particular summer camps.
Ross married Emma in 2011, and in 2013 they moved to St John’s, Downshire Hill, in Hampstead, where Ross worked in youth and children’s ministry for four years before he entered training for ordination at Oakhill College, North London.
Following ordination, in 2020 and in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown, Ross was appointed youth pastor and curate in St James’, Gerrards Cross.
From there, it was time for Ross and Emma to move home, when he was appointed the Associate Minister of the Blackstaff Mission Area (or the Inner South Belfast Mission Area as it was known then). It is partnership of three churches working together to reach the lost, and build the church, for God’s glory.
“We loved our time in the Blackstaff Mission Area and are really encouraged by what God is doing in those three churches. The people are wonderful, kind, and hungry to know Jesus better, and make him better known. I will aways be proud to have a part of their mission, and they will always be on my heart and in my prayers.
“Although we expected to stay longer, Emma and I felt God’s call to St Elizabeth’s very strongly and we are delighted to be following that call. We have three young boys and the whole family is looking forward to living in Dundonald."
