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At the Institution Service in St
John's Parish Church, Dromara on Tuesday 23rd
September are L to R: Thelma Steele
(Churchwarden Garvaghy), Bill Norris
(Churchwarden Dromara), Revd Charlie Leeke (New
Rector & New Area Dean), Mrs Beryl Leeke, Rt
Revd Harold Miller (Bishop of Down and Dromore),
Rita Fee (Churchwarden Dromara) and Eric Lutton
(Churchwarden Garvaghy). |
At the Institution Service in St
John's Parish Church, Dromara on Tuesday 23rd
September are L to R: Revd Canon Charlie Leeke
(New Rector & New Area Dean), Rt Revd Edward
Darling, Rt Revd Harold Miller (Bishop of Down
and Dromore), Ven John Scott (Archdeacon of
Dromore), Revd Canon Fred Graham (Preacher),
Revd Simon Doogan (Diocesan Registrar) and Revd
Gill Withers (Bishop's Chaplain). |
The Revd Canon Charles Leeke was instituted as the Rector of
the Grouped Parishes of Dromara and Garvaghy by the Bishop
of Down and Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller at a Service
of Institution in St John's Parish Church, Dromara on
Tuesday 23rd September. Canon Leeke, who has covered the
vacancy at Dromara and Garvaghy since March 2007, succeeds
the Rev Alan Millar who moved to St Comgall's, Rathcoole in
September 2006. He is married to Beryl, a retired Primary
School Advisor with the Western Education and Library Board;
their grown up family consists of 3 boys and 2 girls.
The church was filled to capacity for the service with
parishioners, family, friends and supporters of Revd Leeke.
The Preacher was the Revd Canon Frewith whom Revd Leeke has
worked in the past.
Born in Aghadowey, Mr Leeke worked as an Art Teacher at
Bangor Secondary School in the 1960s and was Warden at the
Ardnabannon Outdoor Pursuit Centre, Castlewellan
(1967-1970). In 1970 he was appointed Development Officer
with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. In 1980 he
commenced his studies for the ministry; he was ordained in
1983 in St Polycarp's, Finaghy and his first curacy was at
Ballymoney, Finvoy and Rasharkin (1983-1986). He went on to
become rector of Eglinton (1986-1997) and later rector of
Omagh and Mountfield Parishes (1997-2000). In 2000 he was
appointed Development Officer for Reconciliation in the
Diocese of Down & Dromore (Think Again Team) and retired
from this position in 2006. During his retirement he covered
the vacancy at Gilford Parish and since March 2007 he has
covered the vacancy at Dromara and Garvaghy.
24/09/2008
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