Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplaincy, Belfast Information

The Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplaincy is a jointly-backed Christian mission, currently based at Queens University Belfast.

The status of the most popular Christian traditions at Queens is unusual, as the four so-called mainline traditions (Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Methodist) each own and operate property adjacent to the central university campus, whilst maintaining full independence. This situation is unique within the British Isles.

The Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplaincy is notable as it contains residential accommodation for around fifty students, in effect creating a large Christian community on the campus.

The original student centre was established by the Church of Ireland in 1955, although the first chaplain was appointed as early as 1849. In 2012, a local covenant partnership was signed with the Methodist Church in Ireland to create a joint chaplaincy.

As well as several notable alumni, many chaplains have proceeded to hold influential positions within their respective denominations.

Since 2014, Rev. Barry Forde has been recognised as the first joint Church of Ireland and Methodist chaplain.

Since 1957, the Church of Irelands Board of Education has funded annual lectures, hosted by Queens University, which eminent theological figures (typically, but not always, Anglican) are invited to deliver. In recent years, these have included the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of Armagh, Richard Clarke; theologian Alistair McGrath; Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin; and philosopher, Elaine Storkey.

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