[Church of Ireland] Half a century of service in episcopal ministry was celebrated June 9 — St. Columba’s Day — when a congregation gathered for a Choral Eucharist in St. Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry, Ireland, to mark the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Robin Eames.
Eames served as bishop of Derry and Raphoe from 1975 to 1980, and after that as bishop of Down and Dromore, and then archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland, from 1986 until his retirement in 2006. He was consecrated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on June 9, 1975, by Archbishop George Otto Simms, at age 38.
The service was led by Archbishop John McDowell, and the preacher was Bishop Andrew Forster, the current bishop of Derry and Raphoe.
Forster’s predecessor, Bishop Ken Good, along with Mary Good, Bishop George Davison (bishop of Connor), Bishop Ian Ellis (bishop of Clogher) and Bishop Patrick Rooke (formerly bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry) also were present.
Archdeacon Mark Harvey (archdeacon of Dromore) represented Bishop David McClay (bishop of Down and Dromore).
Scripture was read by Forster and Dean Shane Forster (dean of Armagh), with intercessions led by Archdeacon Robert Miller (archdeacon of Derry).
A reception was held afterwards in the Chapter Room, giving many representatives from parish life in the diocese, and guests who had travelled from elsewhere, the opportunity to congratulate Eames, his wife Christine and their sons Michael and Niall.
Forster’s sermon from the service is available in the full article here.