New Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory

Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson had served in Cork for over 20 years

'My childhood years were spent in Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and I look forward to working with the clergy and people there in the years ahead,” he said.
'My childhood years were spent in Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and I look forward to working with the clergy and people there in the years ahead,” he said.

Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Adrian Wilkinson (53) was elected Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory on Thursday at a meeting of the latter diocese’s electoral college in Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral. He succeeds the Bishop Michael Burrows who was translated to the diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe last April.

Before training for the priesthood, Archdeacon Wilkinson graduated from Trinity College Dublin in geography and sociology. Ordained in 1994, he served as curate in Douglas Union with Frankfield in Cork and, from 1997, as rector of Dunboyne Union in Meath during which time he was also chaplain at the NUI Maynooth.

In 2002 he returned to Cork as rector at Douglas Union where he has served since, becoming Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in 2014. A member of the Church of Ireland General Synod and its Standing Committee, of the Representative Church Body and its Executive Committee, of the General Synod Board of Education (Republic of Ireland), and of the Priorities Fund Committee, he has also served on the Governing Council of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.

The Archdeacon is married to Jacqui, a lecturer in teacher education at the Church of Ireland Centre in Dublin City University. They have three grown-up children, two sons and a daughter.

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On his election he said “I am humbled and honoured” and recalled that “while I will be sorry to leave Cork, a place where I have served very happily for over 20 years, I look forward to this new chapter in ministry. My childhood years were spent in Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and I look forward to working with the clergy and people there in the years ahead.”

Following confirmation of his election by the Church of Ireland House of Bishops, Archdeacon Wilkinson will be consecrated bishop on a date to be decided.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times