20.03.2024
New Archdeacon of Glendalough Appointed
The Revd Ross Styles, Rector of Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy with Calary, has been appointed Archdeacon of Glendalough. The announcement follows the retirement of Archdeacon Neal O’Raw who has served in the role since October 2018. Archdeacon O’Raw will continue to serve as Rector of Donoughmore and Donard with Dunlavin.
Announcing the appointment, Archbishop Michael Jackson paid tribute to Archdeacon O’Raw and looked forward to working with his successor.
“The Venerable Neal O’Raw has served the Diocese of Glendalough faithfully as archdeacon throughout his tenure. I want to thank him for his positive spirit and his care of others with diligence and with affection,” he stated.He added: “I have pleasure in appointing the Revd Ross Styles as his successor. Ross has a wide and varied career along with the experience that goes with this. I look forward to working with him in the same spirit of positivity and loyalty to God and to the Church of Ireland”.
The Revd Ross Styles said he was honoured to be asked to serve and looked forward to building on the work of his predecessor.
“It is a great honour for me to be offered the role of Archdeacon of Glendalough and I would like to thank the Archbishop for this opportunity,” he said. “I hail from the west of County Wicklow and it is my privilege to minister in the parishes of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy with Calary in the east of the county. I have a great love of the diverse diocese of Glendalough. It is a humbling thought that my name is being added to a long list of names stretching back far into our country’s history, as the Archdeaconry of Glendalough has existed for nearly a thousand years.”
“I have been very fortunate in my ministry, both in Dublin and in Glendalough, to have worked with, and been inspired by, many clergy who live out our call to service. I would like to thank Archdeacon O’Raw for all that he has done and all that he has given to the diocese of Glendalough. I will endeavour to continue and build on his work and to help and serve in Glendalough and the wider diocese, while continuing to minister to my parishioners. I am very grateful for their amazing support and friendship. Please keep me, Fiona, Ben and Ava in your prayers,” he continued.
The outgoing Archdeacon of Glendalough commended the new appointment and said it had been an honour to serve.
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Revd Ross Styles on his appointment as Archdeacon of the Diocese of Glendalough. In Ross you have a capable, competent and dare I say it, a youthful exponent of all that is good in the Church of Ireland today,” Archdeacon O’Raw commented.
“It has been an honour for me to serve as archdeacon to Archbishop Michael Jackson. Although from very different backgrounds, we worked well together and complemented each other’s strengths. I would also like to thank the Archbishop’s secretary and the staff of the diocesan office who taught me the value of proper respect for administration, although it’s probably still a work in progress,” he said. “While hanging up my archdeaconry gloves, I will remain the Rector of the Parishes of Donoughmore and Donard with Dunlavin for the foreseeable future. Archdeacon designate Ross Styles will always be welcome here in West Wicklow, in the parishes his grandfather served and is fondly remembered. Roll on Harvest Services preaching rota.”
About the Revd Ross Styles
In 2010 Ross began to follow his calling by embarking on the foundation course in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and in the following year he joined the part–time master’s in theology course. He was ordained Deacon in 2015 and spent two years as a Deacon Intern with Canon David Mungavin in the parish of St Patrick’s, Greystones. In 2017 he was ordained priest and served as Curate in the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes. In 2021 he was appointed rector of the parishes of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy with Calary. His hobbies include fishing and hill walking. He is married to Fiona and they have two children.
The Archdeaconry of Glendalough spans an area from Arklow, Inch and Kilbride in the south to Kilternan in the north and reaches west to Athy and Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons.