Ballymore's new rector is a man steeped in the church

TANDRAGEE'S Church of Ireland adherents have a new rector.

But just when Rev Colin Darling (pictured right) will be taking up the post at Ballymore St Mark remains to be seen, for prior to his arrival there is work to be done to the distinctive basalt church which overlooks the roundabout where the roads to Armagh and Portadown meet.

“There's no firm date at the moment,” he told the Gazette in an exclusive interview. “In the normal run of things it's usually three months after the appointment is made, so probably either just before or just after Easter, though the building work may put a kibosh on that.”

He joins from St John’s Killyleagh, County Down, where he was instituted as rector in August 2016. Prior to that he had served for 12 months as intern deacon in Saintfield Parish, following which he was curate in St Finnian’s Parish, Cregagh, for three years.

And although, in his own words, “I was something of a latecomer to ordained ministry,” his family's credentials in Episcopalianism are highly impressive.

For 28 years (1935-1962) Rev Stanley Mann - his grandfather on his mother’s side - was rector of Killyleagh, where Rev Darling himself has been serving six-and-a-half years.

In addition, both his father and paternal grandfather were ordained, as indeed were other relatives.

“I was blessed to have grown up in a Christian family,” is how he put it.

Explaining his personal faith journey he said, “I spent my teenage years at St John’s Malone. And for 20 years before my ordination, I worshipped in Hillsborough Parish where I served on vestry and sang in the choir.

“It was only in later life that I followed the course of ordained ministry and there’s a little sadness in me that I didn’t respond earlier to God’s call.”

Pre-ordination he worked in the banking sector for 25 years during which he served two different banks in a number of roles on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“Since taking the decision to put myself forward for full-time ordained ministry, I can honestly say that I have never looked back or regretted it. It is a real privilege to serve God in any way,” he said.

Regarding his decision to leave Killyleagh’s shoreline and come to hills of Tandragee he described the differences that will entail by saying:, “Currently I’m on the shores of Strangford Lough where I have been working since 2016. It’s a lovely part of the world, so in many ways I’ll be sad to leave it. Killyleagh is a small place, so it’s a small parish – only about half the size of Ballymore and Clare.

“And with my grandfather having been rector here for 28 years, my mother having grown up in the rectory and she and my father having married in St John’s Killyleagh, obviously I have strong links with this place. And, of course, there are great people here, too.

“But all of that said, I still felt drawn by Ballymore and Clare and in view of the challenge that presents I’m looking forward to my ministry there.

“I've already met with some of the people I’ll be working with and we not only talked about trying to grow things, but also about what is meant by ‘growth’. When they hear that word, people probably tend to think in terms of increased numbers – and post-Covid, that’s a natural reaction because that has hit churches across the board.

“Numbers down by a quarter - possibly even a third in some cases - so that’s a rebuilding job.

“But growth can come in other ways, too, such as bringing the average age of the congregation down. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to get rid of any of the older folk but instead to lower the average by bringing in some of the next generation!

“But initially I’ll just want to see how things are and get some idea as to the lie of the land by learning through working alongside people who know the parish well.

“After that we’ll see what direction we need to go in changing anything that might need to be moved pn. But let’s just wait and see where we are first.”

Asked about his vision for the future he said, “My real hope is to see people grow in their faith, others set out on their faith journey and all of us, together, move forwward as a church community.”

A fellow-Cleric of whom he is well aware is Rev Carlton Baxter, now rector of nearby Kilmore and The Dobbin. As well as that, Ballymore and Clare’s new man is familiar with the work of another neighbouring minister, The Venerable Elizabeth Cairns, Archdeacon of Ardboe and rector of nearby Mullavilly.

As for his personal circumstances, he said, “I have one son, Henry, who is currently completing his Masters at Queen’s.”

And asked about the nature of their father-son relationship, he joked, “Perhaps the biggest criticism that could be levelled at me in bringing him up is the fact that, like me, he’s now an avid Crystal Palace supporter, too!”

He added, “We both also love cycling and skiing, though the old man now has to watch from behind as the young one flies off into the distance.

“Golf, rugby, music and travel are my other interests.”