Last Saturday, 27th September 2025, the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross held their Diocesan Synod at Bandon Grammar School. 

The day started with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the sports hall. The Bishop was presiding at the Eucharist and members of the choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork sang at the service, conducted by their Director of Music, Peter Stobart.

After the Eucharist, everyone enjoyed refreshments in the school dining hall, before the Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton took the President’s Chair at 11am and officially started the Diocesan Synod. The Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Ven. Andrew Orr opened the proceedings with a reading and a prayer. The Diocesan Chancellor, Lyndon MacCann S.C. was nominated Assessor by the Bishop, a post which Mr MacCann has held for 25 years.

The Bishop welcomed all the stall holders, guests, and visitors who had travelled to Bandon, which was followed by a review video of events and appointments from the past twelve months. There was a minute’s silence for all those who had died since the last Diocesan Synod. Lay members elected Mrs Helen Arnopp as a lay representative to the Representative Church Body of the Church of Ireland.

Bishop Colton’s Presidential Address can be read here. As part of his address and to mark his 27th and last Diocesan Synod as Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Bishop Colton announced that he and his family have commissioned a bell from Matthew Higby and Co Ltd which he wishes to be a parting gift to the Diocesan Synod and to the Diocesan Council and to be used at future meetings.  

Also as part of his address, referring to his Episcopal Visitation in 2024, Bishop Colton presented the report of the Episcopal Visitation to the Diocese – the fifth and last of his formal visitations.

The Very Rev. Susan Green offered impressions of General Synod. The Diocesan Council Report was proposed by Mr Stephen Spillane and seconded by the Very Rev. Cliff Jeffers. The Diocesan Board of Education Report was proposed by the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne and seconded by Mr Peter Stobart. The Diocesan Education Committee Report was proposed by Mr Peter Stobart and seconded by the Rev. Canon John Ardis. The Diocesan Youth Council Report was proposed by Mrs Judith Peters and seconded by Ms Oriel Hosford. The Diocesan Council for Mission report was proposed by the Rev. Tony Murphy and seconded by Dr Simon Woodworth. All reports were adopted unanimously.

Resulting from the ongoing Children and Family Ministry Learning Process, the CFM Convenor in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Rev. Abigail Sines, presented three parishes with certificate showing that they have successfully completed the Learning Process. This is an initiative that is unique to this diocese.

A private members’ motion concerning Gaza, proposed by Dr Simon Woodworth and seconded by the Rev. Anthony Murphy, drew the most participation of the day and some emotional contributions. A point of order was raised as to whether such motions were properly the business of a Diocesan Synod. The Bishop explained that a Diocesan Synod cannot articulate a view or opinion for the entire Church of Ireland as that is the role of the General Synod, and that a motion such as this is not binding on the Diocese or any member of the Diocese, but he ruled that he was not out of order.  He explained that, ‘if passed, this motion sets out the views of those members of the Diocesan Synod present and voting on this occasion and at this time, only.’  The motion was carried by a the majority of synod members.

At the end of the day, the Bishop thanked the members for their attendance and contributions to the Synod and also those responsible for its smooth running: Bandon Grammar School, diocesan staff, the Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers, the Assessor, the audio-visual contractors, and the clergy and musicians who led Holy Communion. He also thanked visitors and stand holders.  

The Ven. Andrew Orr and Honorary Secretary Linda Deane spoke at the end of Diocesan Synod to thank the Bishop for his 27 years of service as Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

Next year’s Diocesan Synod will be held at Bandon Grammar School on 10th October, 2026.