Ordination of Rev Philip McKinley – 12 September

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Rev Philip McKinley was ordained deacon by Bishop Pat Storey on Sunday 12 September 2021. The service took place in St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare. The preacher was Philip’s father, Canon Horace McKinley (rector of Whitechurch, Dublin).

Philip will serve with Dean Tim Wright in the Kildare and Newbridge Group of parishes.

In keeping with Covid-19 guidelines there was no congregational singing. Music was provided by organist, Charles Marshall .

Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson, Canon Horace McKinley, Rev Philip McKinley, Dean Tim Wright and Bishop Pat Storey. (l to r)

During the service a number of pieces were sung by a small group from the Discovery Gospel choir. An Irish version of the Lord’s Prayer was also sung by a Japanese member of the choir.

Memorably members of the congregation were invited to do the Jerusalema in the Cathedral grounds.

Here is an opportunity to find out a little more about Philip.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am married to Julie, who works for the National Bible Society of Ireland and we have four children aged 15 to 2 – Cameron, Izzy, Eva and Tami. I sing in the Discovery Gospel Choir and follow Benetton Treviso rugby club in Italy. I travel regularly to Uganda and South Sudan.

I have worked in faith-based reconciliation and diversity ministries in different settings and am deeply inspired by the loving breadth and width of Christ’s embrace on the cross, which enfolds all of humanity. 

What is your home parish and what involvement do you have in it (or the dioceses)?

I was born and raised in Whitechurch Parish and more recently I attended Holy Trinity Rathmines, both of which are located in the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. I have served with a variety of projects and committees within the local and national church. Last year, I was privileged to be involved with Fr Martin Magill and others in the creation of ‘The Irish Blessing’, which was a special Christian response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Can you tell us a little about your journey in ordination?

There’s a fair few clergy in the family tree, but ultimately it was the death of three ordained friends, Church of Ireland and Methodist, each within a short space of time, that really got me thinking more deeply about a call that I had struggled for some time to shake off. 

How will you be exercising your ministry in the near future and what are you looking forward to?

I am greatly looking forward to serve for the coming year as Deacon-Intern in Kildare and Newbridge Group of Parishes. Ultimately a deacon is a servant, so that is very much my core function. I will also be writing a dissertation about the experience of black Christians within the Church of Ireland. It is inspired by the work of luminaries such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jnr.