Northern Ireland

Derry bishops honoured for work for peace and community

Bishop Donal McKeowen (right) and Bishop Ken Good have joined together in a number of inter-church activities. In 2017, the two church leaders retraced the journey of St Colmcille to the Island of Iona where he established his monastery
Bishop Donal McKeowen (right) and Bishop Ken Good have joined together in a number of inter-church activities. In 2017, the two church leaders retraced the journey of St Colmcille to the Island of Iona where he established his monastery Bishop Donal McKeowen (right) and Bishop Ken Good have joined together in a number of inter-church activities. In 2017, the two church leaders retraced the journey of St Colmcille to the Island of Iona where he established his monastery
By Seamus McKinney

Catholic Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeow,n and retired Church of Ireland bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, have been named as recipients of this year’s prestigious Lambeth Awards.

The honour, bestowed by the Anglican Church, was confirmed yesterday by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The two church leaders are among 32 people worldwide named as recipients of the awards which are granted in recognition of “outstanding contributions to the church and wider society”. Both Bishop McKeown and Bishop Good will receive a Langton Award for community service.

[ READ MORE: Bishop Donal McKeown blesses graves in moving dawn ceremony ]

In the citation to Bishop McKeown, the award noted his “exceptional and sustained dedication to the cause of peace and social cohesion in an environment of traditional interdenominational tension”.

Bishop Good’s award recorded his “strategic leadership to the local church” and his engagement with the community throughout his ordained ministry “most of which was in the complex community of Northern Ireland”.

Archbishop Welby said what while not all those honoured in this year’s awards were “followers of Jesus Christ”, all contributed through their faith to the mutual respect and maintenance of human dignity.

Bishop McKeown hoped his award would serve as encouragement to the Church and wider civic society.

The Langton Award.
The Langton Award. The Langton Award.

The Catholic church leader said: “It is a privilege to receive this award along with Bishop Ken. He laboured long and faithfully in this corner of the Lord’s vineyard. Anything I have done in my few years here was built on the foundations that others had laid before my arrival.

“As the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, the truth can be encountered by those who walk together.”

Bishop Good, who retired earlier this year, said he was humbled to receive the award and “doubly blessed” to be honoured alongside his “friend in Christ”, Bishop McKeown.

“The pursuit of peace is a noble endeavour but the journey is frequently challenging and can feel lonely. I’m thankful for having had Bishop Donal as a trusted companion in what became for us a joint quest,” Bishop Good said.