Church of Ireland Primate enthroned after Covid-enforced delays

The Most Rev John McDowell has been officially enthroned as Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland following delays related to Covid-19 affecting the traditional ceremony, which should have taken place last year.

On Tuesday evening at St Patrick’s Cathedral on the Hill of Armagh, Rev McDowell was finally able to participate in the live-streamed service.

Archbishop McDowell was elected to the office on March 11th, 2020 and took up his position in April. He had previously served as Bishop of Clogher.

“A service of enthronement usually marks the beginning of a bishop’s ministry in his new diocese, and in the case of the Diocese of Armagh, as the Primate of All Ireland, in the Anglican obedience,” he said in his sermon.

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“That is manifestly not the case today, as I have been loitering in these precincts, persecuting clergy and parishes in this diocese, and trying my best not to wreck the RCB (Representative Church Body) and the standing committee for nearly 18 months now.”

As part of the service, Archbishop McDowell knocked on the door of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, with his crozier, after which Dean Shane Forster installed him at his throne.