Primate appointment reinforces prejudice

WHILE the new Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Alan Harper, may be an excellent candidate for the post, he does seem to be an unfortunate choice on at least two criteria: he is an Englishman and he has no pastoral experience south of the border.

Perhaps it is time for us to lay old animosities to rest, but it does remain a fact that in certain sections of Irish society, the Church of Ireland, where it features at all, is seen as no more than an overseas section of the Church of England and the election of an Englishman as primate only reinforces that prejudice.

Our last primate, Dr Robin Eames, was criticised on more than one occasion because of his lack of pastoral experience in a southern parish; he remained as primate for 20 years and Dr Harper is likely to remain in office for up to 15 years.