01.11.2009
Revd Canon Mark Gardner Appointed Vicar of St Patrick's Cathedral Group
It was announced today that the Revd Canon Mark Gardner, currently Dean's Vicar and Canon Pastor in Christ Church Cathedral will be the new Vicar of the St Patrick's Cathedral Group of parishes , which includes the Church of St Catherine and St James, and the recently-extended Parish School, both in Donore Avenue and St Audeon's Church, Cornmarket .
Canon Mark Gardner was born in 1958 in Dublin and educated in the High School and Trinity College Dublin where he graduated with a BA in medieval history in 1980 and an MA in 1983. After study in the Church of Ireland Theological College (now institute) he was ordained a Deacon in 1983 and a Priest the following year. He was first curate to the Ven WA Macourt, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday, in Ballymacarrett, East Belfast, and later a member of the Columbanus Community of Reconciliation, while curate in St Luke's and St Stephen's on the Shankill Road, and in St George's High St. He served in another ecumenical project in Sunderland parish, in Durham Diocese, from 1989 to 1995, when he returned to Dublin as Rector of the newly-amalgamated parishes of Santry and Glasnevin with Finglas. In 2001, he became Dean's Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral. In 2008 he was made a Canon of Christ Church and Canon Pastor.
Responding to the announcement of his appointment, Canon Mark Gardner said, "I am very pleased that those involved have such confidence in me, and look forward very much to returning to parochial ministry after eight years in Christ Church, which will I hope continue to go from strength to strength. St Catherine's and St James' is a very well-supported Church, while the historic St Audoen's is a jewel in Dublin's crown".
The new Vicar will become a Canon of St Patrick's Cathedral while retaining his Canon's stall in Christ Church. It has been said that he is the first to be a member of both Chapters since Archdeacon Jenkins, already Chancellor of St Patrick's, was installed in Christ Church in 1960 by the 96-year-old Dean Lewis-Crosby.
The institution will take place at 8pm on Tuesday 12 January 2010 in the Church of St Catherine and St James, Donore Avenue.
