Wednesday 6th March 2002

A large congregation attended the consecration service today of the new Bishop of Clogher, Dr Michael Jackson, in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, the Most Revd Robin Eames conducted the service. 

The preacher was the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Rowen Williams and the presenting bishops were the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller, and the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Rt Revd. Paul Colton.

Several ecumenical visitors attended the service including Revd S Todd, Superintendent Minister of Cork Circuit; the Very Revd. Dr John Ross, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Most Revd. J Duffy, Bishop of Clogher.

Members of the House of Bishops and many retired Bishops assisted the Archbishop among them the former Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Donald Caird; two former Bishops of Connor, the Rt Revd Samuel Poyntz and the Rt Revd James Moore; the former Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Rt Revd Noel Willoughby and the former Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Rt Revd Roy Warke.

Dr Jackson succeeds the Rt Revd Brian Hannon who has retired. He is a son of the diocese where his father, the late Archdeacon Roy Jackson, served in Derrybrusk, Ballinamallard and Lisnaskea, and was educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. A distinguished undergraduate career in Trinity College, Dublin, was followed by postgraduate studies in Cambridge. 

Michael Jackson, 46, was ordained in 1986 for the curacy of Zion, Dublin. He returned to England in 1989 as Chaplain to Christ Church College, Oxford, where he undertook further postgraduate research but returned to Ireland in 1997 as Dean of Cork. He has been particularly active in promoting St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in the life of the city and diocese and in formulating an ambitious development plan for the cathedral. 

More recently he has been appointed to the General Synod’s Literature Committee and is to be chairman of the new Church and Society Committee, which will replace the Role of the Church Committee.

Michael is married to Inez (nee Cooke) who is a medical doctor and also from County Fermanagh. Their daughter Camilla is aged 11. In his spare time the new Bishop enjoys swimming, watching cricket, rugby and soccer. He is also interested in contemporary Irish art.

Bishop Jackson, his daughter Camilla and wife Inez at the reception in the Royal School, Armagh following his consecration	Some of those who attended Bishop Jackson's consecration