The new Archdeacon of Derry, the Venerable Robert Boyd MBE, was formally installed at a Service of Installation in St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry on Monday 5th October 2026. The Archdeacon’s wife, May, and children Ellen and Reuben, were in church to hear him make the Chapter Declaration in front of the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster and most of the Canons of St Columb’s Cathedral.
Members of Archdeacon Boyd’s current parish, Glendermott and New Buildings Church of Ireland, a number from his previous parish, Killyman, in the Diocese of Armagh, and parishioners from all corners of the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe were in the Cathedral for the special occasion. They were joined by The Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Ian Crowe MBE and his wife, Christine, and by the High Sheriff of Londonderry, Joan Doherty MBE DL, and her husband, Ken.
The service was led by the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Nigel Cairns, who was Archdeacon Boyd’s first curate after he arrived as Rector of Glendermott almost 10 years ago. “I know Robert to be a faithful pastor,” the Dean told the congregation, “with humility, sound judgement, good humour and a proven track record wherever he has served.” He was highly respected in the scouting world and was awarded an MBE in the King’s honours for services to the community. “So, having heard all that, I’m sure you’ll understand that when Bishop Andrew told me that Robert was to be the new Archdeacon, I was delighted for him and for the Diocese.”
Dean Cairns based his sermon on Psalm 85 which, on one hand, looked back and thanked God for what he had done in the past and, on the other hand, looked forward with hope and expectation for what God would accomplish in the future. “To those ends, the psalmist’s words lead me to talk to you about revival – both personal and for the church; about humility in listening for God’s voice (particularly in leadership); and about this idea of wholeness with God and in God, and with one another.”
Psalm 85 was an apt reading for the Service of Installation, the Dean suggested. “I think, this evening, that a prayer for revival is most appropriate for the beginning of a new phase of ministry. And I imagine that the ministry of an archdeacon isn’t only about the taking on of a new title or a new set of responsibilities. It’s actually about asking God to bring life, renewal, and revival to God’s church and to God’s people; it’s about being willing to serve in the church as it is, while also looking prayerfully to what God might want him to become in the future and in this diocese.
“Note that to revive something basically means to give it life again, to breathe new life into something that may have become tired, weary or diminished. And the church is always in need of the Holy Spirit doing just that through faithful service of the Lord. We all need to remember – and maybe an archdeacon needs to remember more than most – that the church belongs to Christ, and therefore there is always the possibility of new life.
“Robert, seek out that new life. Seek it for yourself. Encourage the rest of us when we’re tired. Keep us focused on the Gospel first and the revival that it brings. Church leadership first and foremost is to know Christ and to make Christ known, not only in your own parish, but now, also, across the diocese at large.”
Dean Cairns suggested that it was important for all in leadership in the Christian church to listen to God’s voice. “That’s the practice of a faithful leader and pastor. Before we speak for God, we must listen to God. Before we seek to lead others, we have to be led ourselves, Before we assume we know what the church needs, we must listen carefully to what the Lord is saying through scripture, through prayer, through the life of discipleship, and through the people whom we’re called to serve.
“So, when church leaders, both lay and ordained, are called to proffer advice or make decisions, then it’s the voice of God which knows best. Not even newly-appointed archdeacons always have the answer. So, the point is to remain sufficiently attentive to God so that you, Robert, can help our diocese to discern where God wants us to be led. ‘Help me to listen to what the Lord will say,’ should probably be a prayer in our daily ministry, if not actually in our daily lives.”
When the psalmist listened to God’s voice, the Dean said, he heard peace being spoken to God’s people and to the faithful. “I suggest that word ‘peace’ carries great weight because no doubt, going forward, there’ll be times when the Archdeacon will have to bring different groups of people together for a multiplicity of reasons. But the language of peace is, we’re told, the very ingredient which prevents turning again to folly or foolishness.”
“Now, let me just tease that one out a bit more. Biblical peace – Shalom – isn’t really or only about the absence of disagreement (it would be naive to think that everyone will agree all the time). Biblical peace is more accurately described as the restoration of right relationship. It’s about wholeness. It’s about the peace which comes when people are reconciled to God and to one another, and it’s integral to the revival that this psalm is all about.
“Listen to this for a beautiful picture of Shalom, the words of the psalm: ‘Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other’. Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace. I’m sure you’ll agree that Christian ministry needs all of it. Truth without mercy is harsh. Mercy without truth is hollow. Righteousness without peace is hypocrisy. Peace without righteousness is shallow. But in God, in the Gospel, all of those things beautifully belong together.
“Robert, as you join the bishop in leading the diocese, truth needs to be spoken but spoken in mercy, leading to restoration, leading to Shalom.”
The final verse of Psalm 85 says, “Righteousness shall go before him and shall direct his steps in the way.” Dean Cairns suggested that those words should become our prayer for the new Archdeacon. “Robert, may righteousness go before you and direct your steps. May the character of Christ shape the ministry you undertake. May integrity matter more than reputation; faithfulness more than popularity; and the Gospel more than personal preference.
“And so, Robert, as you seek revival for your own soul and for the people of God in this diocese, as you humbly listen to God’s voice, as you experience God’s Shalom and wholeness, may righteousness direct your steps into every parish, every meeting, every difficult conversation, every celebration, every crisis, and every opportunity. May righteousness direct your steps in the years that lie ahead under God, as Archdeacon of Derry.”
At the end of Monday evening’s service, the Lord Lieutenant, Mr Crowe, the High Sheriff, Mrs Doherty, and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Derry, Fr Michael Canny, all offered congratulations and best wishes to Archdeacon Boyd.
The new Archdeacon thanked Bishop Andrew for appointing him to the role, saying he was deeply honoured and humbled by the trust the Bishop had placed in him. The Venerable Boyd thanked his family for their support and sacrifice throughout his 36 years in ministry, and paid tribute to his predecessor for his faithfulness in the role, offering Ven. Robert Miller good wishes for his new ministry as Chaplain of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace.
Bishop Andrew thanked everyone present in the Cathedral for helping to make it such a memorable and wonderful evening, and paid tribute to Archdeacon Boyd whom he had come to know well having serving alongside him over many years. “We shared together in two dioceses,” the Bishop said, “and there’s a couple of things that have always stood out for me about Robert. One of them is sanctified common sense. Now, common sense is a virtue that isn’t that common (sanctified common sense is even less common), but, Robert, I know you have that in abundance.
“I remember coming to you in the rectory in Killyman on numerous occasions, just asking your advice about parish ministry and different things, and your advice was always so sound, and I know you will bring that sanctified common sense to the role of Archdeacon.
“The other thing that I’ve always seen in you is that you are a ‘Good News’ man. You love the Gospel. You love the Good News. And you share the Good News – in your very character, in your demeanour, in your humour, in your love for people, and your time for people, in the way you get alongside people. You are a Good News man. We are all called to be Good News men and women and our world needs it. So, let’s be Good News men and women.
“And the third thing, I want to say is this: you are a true and loyal friend. I have watched that friendship as you have supported parishioners and friends through some of the darkest and most difficult days. What you do in modelling that friendship is actually model something of the friendship of God – that commitment that God has for each of us – both in the dark times and in the good times. So, when Archdeacon Miller was appointed to Hampton Court Palace, it wasn’t a very difficult decision for me to know who, I believe, God was directing me to as our new Archdeacon. Thank you so much for agreeing to take on the role. Bless you.”
A huge number of clergy and Readers from throughout the Diocese were in attendance at Monday evening’s service, in which the Dean was assisted by the Cathedral’s Pastoral Assistant, Canon John Merrick, Diocesan Registrar Rev Jonathan Brown, and the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss.
The readings from Scripture were delivered by the new Archdeacon’s children, Ellen and Reuben, and musical worship was led by the Cathedral Choirs, directed by Louis Fields and accompanied by organist Nicky Morton.
After the service, the congregation enjoyed refreshments at St. Augustine’s Church – Londonderry’s parish hall, just a short distance from the Cathedral.
