The Vicar
Rev’d Catherine Simpson
Catherine has a passion to see people come to faith and to know Christ better. She is passionate about team ministry and individuals being released in their God given gifts and consequently seeing the local church impact its community and beyond.
Rev Catherine Simpson joined us in May 2019 she is a past pupil of Ballymena Academy and graduated from the University of Lancaster with a Primary Education degree.
After graduation Catherine worked as a primary school teacher, it was in 2010 she left her role as Vice Principal of McKinney Primary School, Dundrod to train for ordination at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin. After ordination she served as Deacon Intern in Castledawson where she completed her Masters in the Churches response to Peace-making, ‘The extent to which intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the engagement of a parish with the process of reconciliation in its local context, local context being specifically urban, rural and cross-border.’ After her internship in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe, Catherine was appointed the curate in Seapatrick Parish Banbridge, Diocese of Down and Dromore, during this time she wrote a course call ‘Be Reconciled’, which was launched on the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – www.bereconciled.co.uk.
Community Outreach Worker: Miss Kerry Connolly
Kerry is originally from Bangor, with an honours degree in Theology: Youth Work and Ministry and is a JNC qualified youth worker. Having served in a variety of contexts in England and here in Northern Ireland, Kerry joins us from St Jude’s Parish Belfast. For the past year Kerry has primarily been working with women and girls at St Jude’s Belfast. She says, ‘We had an action packed year, particularly our month of mission events with A Passion for Life and it was a privilege to share
the Good News with Ballynafeigh in new and creative ways. I’m grateful for the support of the brilliant staff team and congregation.’
Kerry loves good coffee, true crime documentaries, swimming in the sea, beach walks, reading and has her cats Harry, Luna & Severus.
Select Vestry 2023 -2024
Rev C Simpson Chair
Lauren Penton Hon Secretary
Tony Gregg Hon Treasurer,
Ian Richardson Vicar’s Churchwarden,
Clive Penton People’s Churchwarden
Mark Smyrl Vicar’s Glebewarden,
Ian Duncan People’s Glebewarden,
Christine Beale,
Hazel Johnston,
Irene Davison,
Heather Pollock,
David McIllhagger,
Charlene Miller,
James Douglas,
Ann Southall,
Frank Williams
Parochial Nominators
David McIlhagger
Ian Richardson
Clive Penton
Heather Pollock
Diocesan Synod
Ian Richardson
Christine Beale
Kerry Connolly (under 30)