Alan Harper (archbishop)
Encyclopedia
Alan Edwin Thomas Harper, OBE (born 20 March 1944) is the Church of Ireland
's Archbishop of Armagh
and Primate of All Ireland. He assumed office on 2 February 2007 and was ceremonially enthroned on 16 March 2007. He is the first English-born Irish primate
since the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1869. He and his wife Helen have four children.
on 20 March 1944, Alan Harper was educated at Moorgate County Primary School, Tamworth, Staffordshire, The Grammar School of Elizabeth, Queen of England in Tamworth, and studied Geography
at Leeds University. Following graduation (B.A.
), he worked as University Map Curator and Departmental Librarian in the Department of Geography. He moved to Northern Ireland
in July 1966, when he was appointed a member of the Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland. He married Helen in 1967, and the couple have four children, Catherine, Richard, and twins Emma and Anne. In 1974 he returned to England as Principal Assistant Planning Officer with Staffordshire County Council. In 1980 Bishop Harper was appointed a member of the Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland and was Chairman from 1988-1995. In 1996 he was awarded an OBE for Services to Conservation in Northern Ireland.
to the ministry, Alan Harper entered the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin in 1975 and was ordained a deacon in 1978 in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
. A year later, he became a priest. His first curacy was in the Ballywillan in Connor diocese
; he then served as vicar of Moville, followed by a tenure as rector of Christ Church, Londonderry from 1982-1986. Returning to Connor diocese, Alan Harper became rector of Malone from 1986–2002, and served as Archdeacon of Connor and Precentor of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 1996-2002.
by the Episcopal Electoral College. He was consecrated on 18 March 2002 in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, and enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, on 25 April 2002. On Wednesday 10 January 2007, the eleven bishops of the Church of Ireland elected him the 104th (including those bishops prior to the English Reformation
) Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, in succession to Archbishop Robin Eames
.
(particularly homosexuality
) are the topic of endless debate and simmering acrimony in the Anglican communion
at present, Harper's election to the primacy immediately drew media interest to his views on these questions; previous interviews were given new scrutiny. Several commentators (http://irishangle.net/nuacht/?q=node/423, http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2007/01/englishman_to_lead_irish_churc.html) concluded that he is personally liberal but willing to be bound by more traditional views as long as the Church of Ireland has not as a whole signalled a desire to move on from them.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
's Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
The Anglican Archbishop of Armagh is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Ireland, the metropolitan of the Province of Armagh and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Armagh....
and Primate of All Ireland. He assumed office on 2 February 2007 and was ceremonially enthroned on 16 March 2007. He is the first English-born Irish primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
since the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1869. He and his wife Helen have four children.
Education and employment
Born in StaffordshireStaffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
on 20 March 1944, Alan Harper was educated at Moorgate County Primary School, Tamworth, Staffordshire, The Grammar School of Elizabeth, Queen of England in Tamworth, and studied Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at Leeds University. Following graduation (B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
), he worked as University Map Curator and Departmental Librarian in the Department of Geography. He moved to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in July 1966, when he was appointed a member of the Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland. He married Helen in 1967, and the couple have four children, Catherine, Richard, and twins Emma and Anne. In 1974 he returned to England as Principal Assistant Planning Officer with Staffordshire County Council. In 1980 Bishop Harper was appointed a member of the Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland and was Chairman from 1988-1995. In 1996 he was awarded an OBE for Services to Conservation in Northern Ireland.
Ordination and ministry
Pursuing a vocationVocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
to the ministry, Alan Harper entered the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin in 1975 and was ordained a deacon in 1978 in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
St Anne's Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland...
. A year later, he became a priest. His first curacy was in the Ballywillan in Connor diocese
Diocese of Connor (Church of Ireland)
The Diocese of Connor is in the Province of Armagh of the Church of Ireland.-Overview and history:Christianity has been present in Connor Diocese for over 1500 years. Tradition holds that St. Patrick herded sheep on Slemish, in the heart of the Diocese, when first brought to Ireland as a slave...
; he then served as vicar of Moville, followed by a tenure as rector of Christ Church, Londonderry from 1982-1986. Returning to Connor diocese, Alan Harper became rector of Malone from 1986–2002, and served as Archdeacon of Connor and Precentor of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 1996-2002.
Bishop and Archbishop
On 17 December 2001, Alan Harper was elected Bishop of ConnorBishop of Connor
The Bishop of Connor is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Connor in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The title is currently used by the Church of Ireland, but in the Roman Catholic Church it has been united with another bishopric....
by the Episcopal Electoral College. He was consecrated on 18 March 2002 in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, and enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, on 25 April 2002. On Wednesday 10 January 2007, the eleven bishops of the Church of Ireland elected him the 104th (including those bishops prior to the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
) Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, in succession to Archbishop Robin Eames
Robin Eames
Robin Henry Alexander Eames, Baron Eames OM was the Anglican Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh from 1986 to 2006.-Education:...
.
Views on sexuality
Since issues of sexualityHuman sexual behavior
Human sexual activities or human sexual practices or human sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts from time to time, and for a wide variety of reasons...
(particularly homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
) are the topic of endless debate and simmering acrimony in the Anglican communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
at present, Harper's election to the primacy immediately drew media interest to his views on these questions; previous interviews were given new scrutiny. Several commentators (http://irishangle.net/nuacht/?q=node/423, http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2007/01/englishman_to_lead_irish_churc.html) concluded that he is personally liberal but willing to be bound by more traditional views as long as the Church of Ireland has not as a whole signalled a desire to move on from them.