The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, attended a service of commissioning in the Diocese of Kildare to celebrate the heritage of pioneer ministry in the Church of Ireland and announce a new outreach mission project. 

A new Diocesan Pioneer Ministry Project named ‘The Community of the Celtic Cross’ is being established in the dioceses of Meath and Kildare and is to be led by the Revd Philip McKinley, as Diocesan Pioneer Minister. 

According to pioneerminstry.org, ‘Over the last 50 years, attendance and membership of the Church of Ireland has declined… This has resulted in a narrowing of the fringe of people with whom traditional church can connect. There are now more people in our communities who have no engagement with the Church and no understanding of the Christian message. New approaches to ministry - Pioneer Ministries - are needed to cross cultural barriers to enable the Gospel to be shared with people who are well beyond the fringe.’

The commissioning service for Revd Philip took place in St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare, on September 29th. The Most Revd Patricia Louise Storey, Bishop of Meath and Kildare, presided.

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion attended the commissioning service. Bishop Poggo shared that ‘Pioneer ministry is a good news story. The Great Commission was the last thing that Christ did before ascending into heaven. He charged us with a specific mission. The commission was not just to go, but to go and make disciples, not just to make converts, but to make disciples. 

‘The legacy of this Diocese, as the historic home of Archdeacon William Giff, is one close to my heart and faith. Revd William Giff (and his wife Agnes) were the first CMS missionaries formally posted in Kajo-Keji, my home diocese, in 1929 and are credited with formally bringing the Gospel to Kajo-Keji. What Revd Giff did during his time was an inspirational model for Pioneer Ministry. They successfully reached people in their time who had little or no connection to church or Christianity in South Sudan.

‘I commend the new pioneer ministry of Meath and Kildare Dioceses and pray for the power of the Spirit to guide their footsteps as they seek to reach those who feel disconnected from the body of Christ – the Church.’

Bishop Storey stated in an announcement from Meath and Kildare Dioceses that, ‘This project is rooted in hope – hope in the message of Christ to reach a new generation, and in the faith of those who have gone before us. It invites us to step forward in trust, seeking new ways to share God’s love.’

The initiative was made possible through the support of the Church of Ireland Pioneer Fund and was warmly welcomed by local clergy and the diocesan council.

The statement went on to say that ‘this ministry will seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ in new ways. It will build alongside existing parish life while reaching out to those who may not yet have found a place in church.’ 

Regarding his new commission, Revd Philip remarked, “I am grateful to the parishes of Kildare and Athlone for their openness and willingness to venture into something new within the life of Christ’s Church.”

Since 2023, Revd Philip has served as Lead Pioneer Evangelist at St Brigid’s Cathedral alongside his curacy in the Dunboyne and Rathmolyon Group. This new pioneering project will be based in two localities: St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare and Athlone, County Westmeath, which includes the renowned 6th-century Clonmacnoise monastic city.

Read the statement from Meath and Kildare Dioceses, here.