Chaplains

Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplain

Since 2014, chaplains have been recognised by both denominations as joint chaplains to their respective institutions.

• Revd Danielle McCullagh (2023 – present) as Chaplain to Queen’s and Stranmillis.
• Mrs Gail Mercer (2010 – present) as Chaplain to Ulster University.

Church of Ireland Chaplains (1849 – 2014)

The following list includes Church of Ireland chaplains (also called Deans of Residences) to Queen’s University dating from its inception. (Note that from 1849 – 1908, Deans of Residence in Queen’s College, Belfast were appointed by the Crown, and not the Church.)

Originally, the Dean of Residences was also the incumbent of a local parish. Following years of strong representations from Queen’s staff and local Anglicans, the Church of Ireland Centre was opened in 1954 as a base of operations for a full-time Dean.

• Rev. Henry Murphy, B.D. (1849 – 1865)
• Ven. Edward Newenham Hoare (1865 – 1872), later Dean of Achonry, then Dean of Waterford.
• Rev. Samuel Busby, LL.D. (1872 – 1912), later Rector of St Andrew’s church, Belfast.
• Ven. John Robinson, M.A. (1910 -1912), later Dean of Belfast.
• Ven. William Dowse, M.A. (1912 – 1913), later Dean of Connor.
• Rev. George Stephenson, LL.D. (1913 – 1926), later Rector of St Mary Magdelene church, Belfast.
• Rev. James Rutherford, B.A. (1926 – 1932), later Rector of Willowfield Parish.
• Rev. Frederick Mitchell, M.A. (1932 – 1937), later Rector of St. Polycarp’s, Belfast.
• Rev. John Butler, M.A. (1937 – 1945), later Rector of St. Polycarp’s, Belfast.
• Very Rev. Brian Harvey, B.D. (1945 – 1948), later Dean of St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.
• Ven. Jack Roundhill, B.D. (1948 – 1951)
• Very Rev. R. Edgar Turner, M.A. (1951 – 1958), later registrar of the Diocese of Connor.
• Very Rev. J Maurice G. Carey, M.A., B.D. (1958 – 1964), later Dean of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.
• Rev. G. Cecil Kerr (1965 – 1974), later founder of the Christian Renewal Centre, Rostrevor.
• Very Rev. John Dinnen (1974 – 1983), later Rector of Hillsborough Parish.
• Rt Rev. Harold C. Miller (1984 – 1989), later Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Dromore.
• Ven. Stephen Forde (1989 – 1995), current Dean of Belfast.
• Ven. Andrew J. Forster, BA BTh (1995 – 2002), current bishop of the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.
• Rev. Dr Patrick G. McGlinchey, BA BTh, MA, PhD (2002 – 2009), currently of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
• Ven. Barry Forde (2009-2014), later Archdeacon of Belfast.

In 2014, Barry Forde was appointed jointly as the Church of Ireland & Methodist Chaplain.

Methodist Chaplains (since 1974)

The Methodist Student Centre opened its doors in 1974.

• Rev. T. David Turtle (1974 – 1988)
• Rev. Donald Ker (1988 – 1991), later President of the Methodist Conference
• Rev. Henry Keys (1991 – 2006)
• Mrs Gail Mercer (2006 – 2009), current joint Methodist & Church of Ireland Chaplain to Ulster University
• Rev. John Alderdice (2009 – 2014), current Minister of Ballynafeigh Circuit.