It was announced on the 4th February 2013 that the Episcopal Electoral College for Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, meeting in Church House, Armagh had elected the Revd Ferran Glenfield, Rector of Hillsborough Parish (Down), as the new Bishop of the United Dioceses. He succeeds the Right Revd Ken Clarke, who is now Director of SAMS Ireland.

The Revd Ferran Glenfield is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast. He taught before training for the ordained ministry and completed theological studies in Trinity College Dublin and the University of Oxford. Ordained deacon in 1991 for the Douglas Union of Parishes, he continued to serve in the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross as the Rector of Rathcooney Union of Parishes. In 1996 he moved to Dublin Diocese to become the Rector of Kill o’the Grange Parish in Blackrock where he served for sixteen years before moving to Hillsborough in 2012. In addition to parish experience, he has been involved in theological education most notably through the Irish College of Preachers and the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. He is married to Jean, who is Head of the Preparatory Department in Wesley College, Dublin and they have three children.

The bishop–elect said: ‘I am very surprised but deeply honoured to be asked to serve in this capacity as Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. While the news is coupled with sadness in leaving Hillsborough, I look forward to working in the United Dioceses which is a very special part of the world.’

The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said, ‘I have known Ferran since we were both clergy in Cork Diocese and am an admirer of his intellect, energy and spirituality, and I wish him well in the future.’

The new Bishop will be consecrated on Friday 31st May 2013 in Armagh Cathedral.