Chaplains

Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplain

Since 2014, chaplains have been recognised by both denominations as joint chaplains to their respective institutions.

  • Revd Danielle McCullagh (2023 - present) as Chaplain to Queen's University and Stranmillis College.

  • Mrs Gail Mercer (2010 - present) as Chaplain to Ulster University.

Church of Ireland Chaplains (1849 - 2014)

The following list includes Church of Ireland chaplains (also called Deans of Residences) to Queen's University dating from its inception. (Note that from 1849 - 1908, Deans of Residence in Queen's College, Belfast were appointed by the Crown, and not the Church.)

Originally, the Dean of Residences was also the incumbent of a local parish. Following years of strong representations from Queen's staff and local Anglicans, the Church of Ireland Centre was opened in 1954 as a base of operations for a full-time Dean.

In 2014, Barry Forde was appointed jointly as the Church of Ireland & Methodist Chaplain.

Methodist Chaplains (since 1974)

The Methodist Student Centre opened its doors in 1974.

  • Rev. T. David Turtle (1974 - 1988)

  • Rev. Donald Ker (1988 - 1991), later President of the Methodist Conference

  • Rev. Henry Keys (1991 - 2006)

  • Mrs Gail Mercer (2006 - 2009), current joint Methodist & Church of Ireland Chaplain to Ulster University

  • Rev. John Alderdice (2009 - 2014), current Minister of Ballynafeigh Circuit and President of the Methodist Church in Ireland 2024-5.