The Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, has announced that he has appointed three new Honorary Canons to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Bishop Colton said that he is delighted to have made the appointments following consultation with the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne:

• Mrs Gillian Kingston has been appointed as a lay Ecumenical Canon.
• The Reverend Robert Ferris, Rector of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes has been appointed as Honorary Canon Missioner.
• The Reverend John Ardis, Rector of Abbeystrewry Union of Parishes has been appointed as Honorary Canon with responsibility for vocations in the Diocese.

Gillian Kingston was born in Cork, but spent childhood years moving between Bandon and Nigeria where her father was a civil engineer and her mother had been a nurse. Returning to Ireland, she was educated in Rochelle School, now part of Ashton School, and then obtained a degree in English Language and Literature from Trinity College, Dublin. A teacher for some years, more recently she served on the chaplaincy team at University College, Dublin. While there, she led student walks on the Camino de Santiago in support of the Peter McVerry Trust.

Gillian is a member of the Methodist Church in Ireland and, in 2010, she was elected the first Lay Leader of the Conference of the Methodist Church. She is a long-time member of the Covenant Council.

A past President of the Irish Council of Churches and of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, she is currently Vice President of the World Methodist Council and served on its team for theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church for twenty years.   Gillian is married to Tom, a retired Methodist minister; they live in rural Co. Offaly, but spend as much time as possible in West Cork. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren.

In response to her appointment, Gillian said:

I am delighted and honoured to be appointed Ecumenical Canon at the Cathedral Church of Saint Fin Barre and I look forward to renewing associations with this beautiful place and its community. The Cathedral played a significant role in life at Rochelle School, and it was, and is, a joy to worship there. 

Robert Ferris serves as the Incumbent of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes since 2020. Within the wider Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross he chairs the implementation Group for “Charting a Future with Confidence.  Additionally, Robert holds the position of Diocesan Advocate for Pioneer Ministry, advocating for innovative approaches to ministry within the diocese.

Prior to his current role, Robert served as a Curate Assistant at St. Columba’s Knock in the Diocese of Down from 2009 to 2012, followed by his tenure as an Assistant Priest in Carrigrohane Union with particular responsibility for Blarney from 2012 to 2020.

Robert, originally from Seapatrick Parish, Banbridge Co. Down was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese of Down in 2009, and subsequently ordained as a Priest in the same diocese in 2010. His educational background features a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) with a Diploma in Industrial Studies in Computer Science from the University of Ulster Coleraine, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Queens University Belfast, and a Bachelor of Theology from the University of Dublin, Trinity College. In 2019, he earned a Master of Arts in Mission Pioneer and Fresh Expressions of Church from Cliff College (University of Manchester).

Speaking about his appointment, Robert said:

I am surprised, delighted, and honoured to be appointed as Honorary Canon Missioner of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. It will be a privilege to serve the Diocese and Cathedral in this particular role. I hope that working together as the Diocesan family we can be encouraged as we look forward with Confidence to a hopeful future.  As I step into this new role I hope that it will enable helpful conversations around the Cathedral and Diocese with a focus on the 5 Marks of Mission in their fullness namely Sharing the Good News of Christ, Intentional Discipleship, Responding to community needs, Challenging injustice and Tending Creation. 

John Ardis grew up in rectories in a number of places around Ireland: Dublin, Wexford and spent his formative years in Mayo.  Prior to ordination, John studied Archaeology and Medieval Studies at University of Wales, Lampeter.  After his degree he worked as an Archaeologist on various sites around Ireland and then worked as a virger in Canterbury Cathedral.  After training in the Church of Ireland Theological College he was ordained Deacon in 2006 and Priest in 2007, serving as curate in Christ Church Cathedral Group of parishes in Dublin Diocese.  After two years, he moved to Cork Diocese where he has served ever since, working as Dean’s Vicar at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, then Church of Ireland Chaplain at UCC and then in his present position as Rector of the Abbeystrewry Union of Parishes.  John has served in the Diocese in a number of ways in being a former Bishop’s Chaplain. He is the current Diocesan Liturgical officer and was recently appointed the Diocesan Director of Ordinands.  John is also a Minor Canon and Chapter Clerk of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral.  John is married to Jane, and they have four boys ranging in ages from 9 years to 16 years. 

John reacted to his appointment saying:

I am humbled and delighted to have been appointed an Honorary Canon of St. Fin Barre’s.  I look forward to helping the Dean and Chapter in any way I can, and to work to the best of my ability to foster vocations in the Diocese.

Honorary Canons are non-voting members of the Cathedral Chapter and serve for an initial 5 year term.