The Bishop of Connor, the Right Rev Alan Harper, was today elected to succeed Archbishop Robin Eames as the new Church of Ireland Primate.
Rev Alan Harper
Eleven members of the Church of Ireland House of Bishops, excluding Archbishop Eames, elected the Bishop, who has lived in Northern Ireland for more than 40 years.
Bishop Harper said: "I am deeply humbled and honoured by the trust placed in me by my colleagues. I pray that God will guide me in fulfilling the responsibilities of the role of Archbishop of Armagh. I am conscious of the privilege of serving the Church in this role.
"I look forward to meeting the people of my new diocese and those members of the Church throughout the island of Ireland."
Bishop Harper (62) hails from England. He was ordained in 1979 and elected Bishop of Connor in December 2001.
Archbishop Eames of Armagh said: "I am delighted to learn of Bishop Harper's election to the Primacy and I wish him God's richest blessing as he prepares for new responsibilities.
"His many gifts which I have seen and appreciated at first hand together with his deep spirituality will equip him to provide the Church of Ireland with prayerful and wise leadership."
Making the announcement at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the Most Rev Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, said he looked forward to working in partnership with Bishop Harper and under his leadership.
"Bishop Harper is a man of deep faith, great ability and pastoral insight and I am certain that he is the person that we were guided by the Holy Spirit to elect to this office. He will represent the Church of Ireland in situations in Ireland and beyond with great courage and clarity, and it will be a joy to work with him," he said.
In the run-up to the election, there were indications Archbishop of Dublin Dr Neill would not exercise his prerogative to succeed to Bishop of Armagh since Archbishop Eames retired on December 31st.
Both the Catholic Church and Presbyterian Church welcomed the appointment. The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, said: "Connor's loss is Armagh's gain. "Bishop Harper has always been a clear voice against division and sectarianism.
"He has been particularly committed to inter-denominational work in the Diocese of Connor and further afield. Wherever Bishop Harper has served he has won affection and respect for his calm, incisive leadership both in ecclesiastical and civic matters."
"In recent weeks I have enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside Alan Harper on a number of issues," added Presbyterian Moderator Dr David Clarke. "He is a clear thinker able to identify what needs to be done in any situation and through his leadership in Connor has proved to be a man of action and not just words.
"I have no doubt that the Church of Ireland and the wider Christian community in Ireland will benefit from his future ministry shaped by these outstanding qualities."
Bishop Harper said it was a privilege, but a difficult task, to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. Archbishop Eames, 69, played a pivotal role in Northern Ireland politics, and has been a prominent advocate for peace and understanding.
Elected primate in 1986, he led the Church through some of the worst years of the conflict that has ravaged Northern Ireland over the past four decades.
He is to receive the 2006 Tipperary International Peace Award.
Bishop Harper called for Sinn Fein and the DUP to resolve the issues stalling the peace process, particularly in the area of policing. "It is not my job to tell politicians what to do," he said. "But it is my job to encourage them, for the benefit for everyone, to seek engagement, to look for ways to enable one another to come to the positive of agreement."
He stressed he was also committed to tackling sectarianism, adding that it did not just affect the church in Northern Ireland.
Bishop Harper and his wife Helen, parents of Catherine, Richard, Emma and Ann, are expecting their first grandchild in April. Dr Neill said the new primate was a man of great faith and would be a pleasure to work with.