CofI Bishop welcomes spiritual colleague

In welcoming the appointment Bishop Good said: “I have known Bishop Donal for many years and look forward to a warm working relationship with him. We were both teachers, have run marathons and have been involved in many fruitful discussions about the future of our community”.

He continued: “Bishop McKeown has a commitment to building peace in our community and he will receive a warm welcome in our city. We offer our prayers and good wishes for his new ministry in Derry diocese”.

Meanwhile, the Dean of Derry, the Very Rev Dr William Morton, said he, too, had met Bishop McKeown on many occasions, both work and social, and was looking forward to him visiting the Cathedral in his official capacity as well as informally.

“I met Bishop Donal some years ago on a three-day clerical event in Cookstown, and on a number of occasions since. I am very much looking forward to him being installed in the city and visiting us at St Columb’s Cathedral.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Rob Craig, who is also the minister of Kilfennan Presbyterian Church also welcomed the appointment, saying: “I would congratulate Bishop Donal McKeown on his appointment to the Diocese of Derry and look forward to working with him in the promotion of the Christian faith to the people of the city and beyond.

“I know he will be warmly welcomed just as I was twenty years ago and will find a people keen to live together side by side respecting one another, strengthened by their diversity and united in their love for the north west.”

He continued: “While I don’t know Bishop McKeown personally he is held in high regard by my Presbyterian colleagues who minister with him in Belfast and who serve alongside him in the area of state education.

“I welcome him to the city and assure him of our prayers and good wishes for the days ahead,” the Moderator said.

The formal announcement was made by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown at St Eugene’s Cathedral at 11am yesterday, Tuesday.