You know you are getting older when a former student becomes a bishop, dean or archdeacon

Dean Stephen Farrell of Kilkenny was elected Bishop of Meath and Kildare this afternoon

Patrick Comerford

There is an old saying that you know you’re getting older when you start remarking on how young the police are there these days. But these days all the police, without exception, are younger than me.

I suppose the equivalent for retired academics in the field of theology is when we start noticing that senior academics in our field are our former students, and it becomes truly awakening when our former students become deans, archdeacons and, more especially, bishops.

Already, one of my former students is on the staff of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, and in addition 13 have become cathedral deans and 13 are serving in their dioceses as archdeacons.

But all these sayings become reality this afternoon when, for the first time, one of my former students was elected a bishop in the Church of Ireland.

The Episcopal Electoral College for the Diocese of Meath and Kildare, meeting in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, this afternoon elected the Dean of Ossory, the Very Revd Stephen Farrell, as the new Bishop of Meath and Kildare, in succession to the Most Revd Pat Storey, who retired in July this year. The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, chaired the electoral college today.

The bishop-elect said this afternoon: ‘I am humbled and delighted in equal measure to have been elected to serve as Bishop of Meath and Kildare. I ask for the prayers of all those with whom I will work as we labour together in this corner of God’s Kingdom.’

Following the confirmation of his election by the House of Bishops, the bishop-elect will be consecrated as bishop.

Dean Stephen Farrell was a student in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2005-2011, and had previously studied law at Jesus College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon and priest as curate in Taney Parish, Dundrum, in the Diocese of Dublin (2008-2011). He was then the Rector of Zion Parish, Rathgar in 2011-2022. He was also registrar of the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough and Provincial Registrar.

In those years, he interviewed my on local radio in Dundrum, invited me to preach in Zion Church, and as books editor invited me to review books for the Church of Ireland journal Search. Meanwhile, he also completed a Masters degree in Canon Law at Cardiff University in 2015.

Dean Farrell has been the Dean of Ossory (Kilkenny Cathedral) since 2022.

Alongside Dean Farrell, the other 10 deans in the Church of Ireland who have been my students are: the Dean of Limerick and Ardfert, the Very Revd Niall Sloane; the Dean of Cashel, the Very Revd James Mulhall; the Dean of Leighlin, the Very Revd Mairt Hanley; the Dean of Clonmacnoise, the Very Revd Abigail Sines; the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the Very Revd Tom O’Brien; the Dean of Tuam and Killala, the Very Revd Diane Matchett; the Dean of Derry, the Very Revd Nigel Cairns; the Dean of Raphoe: the Very Revd Elizabeth (Liz) Fitzgerald; the Dean of Down, the Very Revd Henry Blair; and the Dean of Dromore, the Very Revd Geoff Wilson.

In addition, two retired deans have been my students: the Very Revd Roderick Smith, former Dean of Killaloe; and the Very Revd Paul Bogle, former Dean of Clonmacnoise.

The 13 serving archdeacons who have been my students are: the Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Ven Ross Styles; the Archdeacon of Cashel, Ferns, Waterford and Lismore, the Ven Alec Purser; the Archdeacon of Tuam and Killaloe, the Ven John Godfrey; the Archdeacon of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe, the Ven Vicki Lynch; the Archdeacon of Kilmore, the Ven Ian Horner; the Archdeacon of Elphin, the Ven Isaac Hanna; the Archdeacon of Ardagh, the Ven Hazel Hicks; the Archdeacon of Dalriada (Connor), the Ven Dennis Christie; the Archdeacon of Belfast (Connor), the Ven Barry Forde; the Archdeacon of Down, the Ven Jim Cheshire; the Archdeacon of Ardboe (Armagh), the Ven Elizabeth Cairns; the Archdeacon of Clogher, the Ven William Jeffrey; and he Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Ven John Ardis.

At least seven members of the chapter of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and seven canons in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, have also been my students.

Of course, in each and every case, their achievements and their recognition are due to their own admirable qualities, qualifications and abilities. But today’s election marks another milestone in my academic career and in my ministry.