26.10.2021
Parish pays tribute to Canon Paul Houston on his retirement
Parishioners of the Grouped Parishes of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla said farewell to their Rector, Canon Paul Houston, on Sunday September 26. Canon Houston retired from full time ministry having been Rector of these Dublin parishes for the past 12 years. He had served over 40 years in ministry in the Church of Ireland.
Parishioners gathered in Castleknock and Clonsilla to pay tribute to Canon Houston who they describe as having been “a guiding hand during his incumbency here through the best of times and worst of times in the life of this parish”.
Canon Paul was born and raised in Belfast and studied Economics and Politics in Queens University. Following brief period as an accountant, he started training for the ordained ministry in 1978, was ordained a deacon in 1981 and a priest the following year.
He was appointed to his first Curacy in Carrickfergus in the Diocese of Connor followed by a second Curacy in Bangor in the Diocese of Down. In 1986 he was appointed Rector of Gilford, also in the Diocese of Down. In 1990 he moved to Carnalea in Bangor and he subsequently moved to the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough to the Parish of Clondalkin and Rathcoole in 1999.
He has held many roles in the Diocese during his time including two periods as Rural Dean, serving on the Diocesan Board of Education and as Diocesan Chaplain to the Mothers’ Union. In 2014 he was made Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral as Prebendary of Castleknock. He was also a member of the Board of the Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland. In 2011 he married fellow diocesan clergyperson, Canon Adrienne Galligan.
Parishioners wished him the very best for the years ahead in his retirement and to mark his time as Rector and his ministry, they presented him with an engraved Dublin Crystal bowl.