The Rev. Lindsey Farrell has been instituted as rector of the grouped parishes of Maguiresbridge and Derrybrusk in Clogher Diocese at a recent service.

Rev. Farrell, who grew up in Clogher Diocese, undertook part of her training for ordained ministry in the diocese and had been serving as Bishop’s Curate of the Inver group of parishes, which includes Mountcharles, Inver, Killaghtee and Killybegs along the Wild Atlantic Way in the diocese of Raphoe for the past three years before her new appointment.

The Service of Institution was conducted by the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Rev. Dr. Ian Ellis, assisted by the Archdeacon, the Venerable Brian Harper; Diocesan Registrar, Rev. John McClenaghan; and the Rural Dean, the Rev. John Woods.

The preacher was Archdeacon David Huss, Rector of Donegal and Archdeacon of Raphoe.

The hymns were, ‘The Lord of sea and sky’, ‘Psalm 23’, ‘Brother, sister, let me serve you’, and ‘Be thou my vision’. The organist was Mr. Timothy Elliott.

The First Reading was by the Rev, Abraham Storey, ordained local minister, who had been in charge of services and pastoral cover during the vacancy and the Second Reading was by Joe McAlpine, parish reader.

With limited numbers attending due to Covid restrictions, the service was livestreamed on Facebook.

Following the service, Rural Dean, Rev. John Woods, invited a number of speakers to the front of the church to offer their best wishes to Rev. Farrell and her family.

Speaking to her new congregation for the first time, Rev. Farrell firstly thanked the parishioners of her Donegal parishes for taking her and her family into their hearts and homes, and asked her new parishioners for continued prayer to enable her and her family to settle into their new surroundings.

Bishop Ian Ellis, who had supervised Rev. Farrell in her deacon intern year spent in Rossorry Parish, thanked everyone for arranging the Service of Institution.

Rev. Farrell is married to Keith, and they have three children, Grace (16), Emily (14) and Harry (12).

She was ordained in St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Clogher, and served as deacon intern in Rossorry Parish.