The Rector of St Augustine’s Church, Rev Nigel Cairns, has been appointed Dean of Derry and Rector of the new parish grouping of Templemore & St Augustine’s, a merger which brings together two of Londonderry’s best-known city-centre churches.
News of the appointments was shared with the congregations of St Columb’s Cathedral and St Augustine’s at Sunday morning services. It is expected that a Service of Installation will be held in early summer at which the Dean-elect will formally succeed Very Rev Raymond Stewart who retired at the end of last year.
Rev Cairns’ appointment as Rector was made following a Board of Nomination meeting, while his appointment as the new Dean was made by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster.
The Dean-elect, who was born and reared in Londonderry, says he and his wife, Alison, are looking forward to this exciting new chapter in their lives. “As a son of the city, I feel both humbled and blessed to be appointed Dean of Derry and Rector of Templemore, which now encompasses St Columb’s and St Augustine’s.
“For a whole host of reasons both of these churches, and the people, are very close to the hearts of my wife, Alison, and I. We are looking forward, under God, to being part of the Christian witness and ministry within The Walls and I would encourage the parishioners of both churches to prayerfully support and embrace this exciting new beginning as we build and grow together.
“I would like to thank Alison, our children Megan and Matthew, Bishop Andrew, the congregations and my fellow clergy for their encouragement and prayers.”
The Dean-elect grew up in Londonderry’s Waterside and was educated at Lisnagelvin Primary School, Clondermott High School, Foyle College and Stranmillis University College, where he qualified as a primary school teacher. He taught in schools in Limavady, Artigarvan and Omagh before leaving the profession to train for ministry in the Church of Ireland. He was ordained to the Diaconate in September 2016 and priested in September 2017.
