THE first female canon in the 400-year history of Derry’s St Columb’s Cathedral has been installed in the city.
Rev Canon Katie McAteer was installed along with Rev Canon Robert Boyd in a service at the ancient city centre cathedral this week.
Completed in 1633, St Columb’s was the first purpose-built Anglican cathedral following the Reformation and the first non-Catholic ever built in Europe.
The two new canons were joined by families and friends for the service which was led by Dean of Derry, Raymond Stewart, joined by Church of Ireland bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Andrew Forster who preached the sermon. In becoming a canon, Rev McAteer follows a family tradition as her father was canon of Chester Cathedral.
Bishop Forster said Canon McAteer and Canon Boyd’s installations were an important night for the church, the diocese and the Derry and Raphoe parishes.
“Down through the years, bishops have appointed canons because in their lives and in their ministry, they incarnated what it means to be a pastor, to preach, to each, to care for God’s people, just as in history canons and prebends did.
"And all of us know that Robert and Katie live out those qualities marvellously; in their own personal lives, in their day-to-day lives, they live out the sermon of Christ; in their pulpits they teach the Good News of Christ; and in their diligent care for their parishioners they care for Christ’s people,” he said.
The bishop also pointed out that Rev McAteer and Rev Boyd were the first canons he had appointed since becoming bishop of Derry and Raphoe. He said the service of installation was an acknowledgement of the new canons’ ministry and a way of sharing that ministry.
