Institution of the Rector - Ramoan and Culfeightrin Parish, Ballycastle

What to Expect

Holy Trinity Church on The Diamond in Ballycastle hosts the formal institution service of the new rector of Ramoan and Culfeightrin Parish on Friday 4 September 2026. An institution is a set-piece diocesan occasion rather than an ordinary Sunday service: the bishop formally installs the incoming rector into the parish, clergy from across the Diocese of Connor and neighbouring parishes typically process and attend in choir, and the wider congregation and local community are invited to mark the start of a new incumbency. Services of this kind tend to be full and celebratory, combining formal liturgy with hymns, readings and an address, followed in most parishes by refreshments for the congregation and visiting clergy. It is one of the more significant one-off events on the parish calendar, marking a change of leadership that shapes parish life for years to come. Ramoan and Culfeightrin is the Church of Ireland parish covering Ballycastle and the surrounding north Antrim coastal area, and an institution service of this kind draws not only regular parishioners but also civic representatives, ecumenical guests from other local churches, and members of the wider Ballycastle community with a connection to the parish. The evening typically closes with refreshments in the church hall, giving the new rector an early opportunity to meet parishioners informally after the formal liturgy.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Friday 4 September 2026, 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
• Venue: Holy Trinity Church, The Diamond, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.
• Free and open to the public, including parishioners, well-wishers and visiting clergy.
• Listed on the Diocese of Connor’s official events calendar as an institution service for Ramoan and Culfeightrin Parish.
• Formal dress is customary for this kind of diocesan service, though it is not compulsory for members of the public attending.
• Check connor.anglican.org/events/ for any last-minute changes ahead of the date.

Getting There

Ballycastle is on the north Antrim coast, and Holy Trinity Church sits on The Diamond in the centre of the town, within walking distance of the bus station. Translink bus services connect Ballycastle to Ballymena, Coleraine and Belfast.