Updated: Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 10:49am

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Rector departs Julianstown

Venerable Patrick Lawrence, Church of Ireland rector in Julianstown for the past 10 years, is leaving the coast to take up a new appointment as rector in Monkstown, Co Dublin.

Rev Lawrence said yesterday (Tuesday) that his time in east Meath were 'the most wonderful years of my life'. He was ordained in 1981 for the curacy of Derry Cathedral, moving in 1984 as curate at Kilkenny Cathedral and, in the following year, as rector of Crosshaven in Co Cork. While in Crosshaven, he married his wife, Anne, and they have three children: Moyra, Emma and Jane.

In 1992 he was appointed rector of Greashill, Co Offaly. During his time there, Bishop Walton Empey appointed him Archdeacon of Kildare, and in 1997, he was also appointed Archdeacon of Meath.

He came to Julianstown as rector in July 1998, in succession to Canon Jim Nelson, who has since passed away. In 1999, Venerable Lawrence was appointed Canon of St Patrick"s Cathedral in Dublin.

He moves to Monkstown on 25th March. He said that he had spent some wonderful years in the Julianstown parish. 'There are wonderful and warm people in this parish, not all of them members of the Church of Ireland, but we all got on wonderfully well together. There is a great mix of people, some from other parts of Ireland, along with the locals and it is true to say that the locals and blow-ins all mix very comfortably. I"m really sorry to be leaving,' he said.