Archdeaconis installed

Surrounded by family, friends and clergy, beneath the vaulted ceiling of St Columb’s Cathedral, the newly-appointed Archdeacon joined in prayers of thanks for the work in the Chapter and in the Diocese of the former Archdeacon, The Venerable D S McLean and his wife, Karen, who retired.

Prayer was led during the service by the Dean of Derry, the Very Rev Dr William Morton, who welcomed the clergy and congregation saying: “This is an occasion of great celebration for Robert, his family and the people of the Parish and for the Cathedral in terms of the Chapter and the Diocese at large”. The Dean also gave the sermon.

The first lesson, Genesis 28: v 10 to 19, Jacob’s dream, was read by Archdeacon Miller’s brother, Paul, and the second lesson, 2 Corinthians 4, was read by Rhys Jones, of Maghera Parish Church, where the new Archdeacon served as Rector before he came to Christ Church to oversee the amalgamated Parishes.

The hymns for the evening were ‘We have a Gospel to proclaim’, ‘May the mind of Christ my Saviour’, ‘Come down, O Love divine’ and ‘Love divine, all loves excelling’. The Organist was Ian Mills, and the Boy Choristers and Male Choir led praise and sang Psalm 84, the Magnificat ‘A Song for Mary’ sung to the setting by Richard Shepherd. The Anthem was ‘O Sing Joyfully unto God our Strength’ (music by Adrian Batten), and the Collect was that for the 13th Sunday after Trinity. The choir also sang the Nunc Dimittis (Dyson in F).

The Act of Installation saw the Archdeacon brought forward by the Registrar, Rev David Crooks, to stand before the Cathedral Chapter in the Chancel, where the Bishop’s Mandate was read. The Archdeacon was then asked to make the following Chapter Declaration: “I the Venerable Robert Stephen Miller, do declare that I will faithfully serve the Chapter of this Cathedral Church of St Columb, I will observe the statutes and customs of this Cathedral, so far as they do not conflict with the laws of the Church of Ireland, and I will diligently use my endeavours for the good of God’s Church and the promotion of His will throughout this diocese.”

The new Archdeacon was then formally welcomed by the Chapter members by the shaking of hands, and the Dean led the Archdeacon to his Stall and formally assigned him to the Office of Archdeacon in the Cathedral Church, noting that he inherited the rights and responsibilities of the position and asked for God’s blessing on him as he went about his duties.

In his Sermon the Dean used comparisons from the Second Lesson (2 Corinthians 4) to illustrate his words, liking the human condition to jars of clay, with God as the power inside, and urged the new Archdeacon to carry out his duties with the wisdom of the serpent but with the gentleness of the dove - both symbols carved on the pew end of the Archdeacon’s Stall in the Cathedral building.

He also urged the Archdeacon to find the right balance in his work and ministry and to remember that first and foremost he was a priest with pastoral duties. He also charged him not to shy away from challenging the parishes to face what might be perceived as uncomfortable truths, and to do so with balance and in compliance with the Gospel messages of faith and love.

Dean Morton also took time to acknowledge with gratitude the contribution made by Archdeacon Donal McLean, saying he had made an enormous contribution to the Chapter and the Diocese. He wished him and his wife Karen a long and happy retirement.

The offering was taken up for St Columb’s Cathedral, and the Blessing and a final hymn brought the formal service to an end.

Music before the service, played on the Wells-Kennedy organ by Ian Mills, was the Organ Sonata No.2 in C Minor by F Mendelssohn, and following the final hymn Mr Mills played the Organ Voluntary Toccata from Symphony No.5 by C M Widor.`