13.09.2026
Canon Trevor Sargent Appointed Rector of St Ann’s with St Mark and St Stephen
Canon Trevor Sargent has been appointed the new Rector of the Parish of St Ann with St Mark and St Stephen. Trevor is currently Rector of the Bunclody Union in the Diocese of Ferns. The announcement was made in the parishes this morning (Sunday September 13).
Making the announcement Archbishop Michael Jackson said: “Trevor has a long career of distinguished public service as a teacher and as a politician. His commitment to a greener life on the part of us all will be important to our dioceses as our understanding of mission deepens and broadens. I welcome Trevor back to the diocese and hope that he and his wife will be extremely happy among us”.
Trevor is from Templeogue in Dublin, where he attended the nearby Rathfarnham NS and the High School, before training as a primary school teacher in the Church of Ireland College of Education. His interests growing up, from Scripture Union in secondary school, to Sunday School teaching, to scouting, the Irish language, culture, guitar playing and natural history, have been formative into adulthood.
Trevor combined his early teaching career with living bilingually, by residing with a Gaeltacht family when teaching in the Model School, Dunmanway, Co Cork. On being appointed Principal of St George’s NS in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, Trevor immersed himself in parish and community life and was elected to Dublin County Council in 1991 and Dáil Éireann in 1992, representing Dublin North as a Green Party TD. He became the first leader of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, and later Minister of State for Food and Horticulture in the 2007–2011 coalition government.
After losing the general election in 2011, Trevor was asked to write and illustrate a book about his experiences of politics, agriculture, life and growing food in limited spaces, known as ‘Trevor’s Kitchen Garden’. Trevor and his partner, Áine Neville, then moved to Co Wexford, where they were married in St Enoch’s Church, Killinick, in 2014.
Following a time of prayerful discernment, and with the support of Bishop Michael Burrows, Trevor was selected for training to full–time ministry in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. He was ordained deacon in Shillelagh in 2017, working with the Archdeacon, the Ven Andrew Orr in the Tullow Group, and priested in Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford, in 2018, working with the Very Revd Maria Jansson, the Dean of Waterford.
On February 5 2021, Trevor was instituted as Rector of Bunclody Union during the Covid–19 pandemic, where he resorted to recording weekly services on YouTube and organised, (thanks to a marquee in the rectory grounds, and with Áine’s help) outdoor parish events, from coffee mornings to allow them meet parishioners, to outdoor confirmation classes.
Since the pandemic, Trevor has collaborated with Dr Jeffrey Cox in developing a thriving St Mary’s Choir and young chorister programme, and with many others to organise table tennis, badminton, bowling, GFS and Boys Brigade, as well as Youth and Family Services in St Fiaac’s Church, Clonegal.
2026 has marked the 250th anniversary of St Mary’s Church, Trevor has helped with the calendar of special occasions marking this milestone, not least the publication of Oliver Deacon’s beautifully illustrated and well researched landmark history of the parish.
Bunclody is also blessed with excellent primary and secondary schools, especially Carrigduff NS where Trevor has chaired the Board of Management, learned much from the Principal, Ms Carolyn Good, and the other members of staff. They have also shared important family times, some very sad and others immensely joyful, with pupils, and families, as well as collaborating with teachers in organising school assemblies.
Commenting on his departure from St Mary’s Rectory in Bunclody, Trevor said: “It will be difficult and sad to leave all the many friends Áine and I have made in this active rural parish, but I am confident, by God’s grace, that Bunclody Union is in a good position to thrive and attract a new Rector who will bring fresh collaborative ideas to the work of witnessing to Christ’s love in this union of four parishes and in this farming community”.
Anticipating the new chapter of ministry ahead as incumbent of the Parishes of St Ann, St Stephen and St Mark, in Dublin, Trevor said:
“St Ann’s has been a special place of sanctuary, prayer and worship for me, for almost 30 years, from my time as a TD when I frequently attended the lunchtime Holy Communion services there, just a short walk from Leinster House. I have, like many others, enjoyed attending concerts in St Ann’s and am looking forward to working with the renowned choirs in both St Stephen’s and St Ann’s churches.
“Through my involvement in Eco–Congregation Ireland and Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, I have also attended many meetings in St Ann’s side rooms, thanks to the generosity of this city centre parish in meeting the needs of many visitors, organisations and charities. I am especially looking forward to carrying on the long–standing ‘Black Santa’ tradition, which assists many charities during Advent in making ends meet. I also look forward to getting to know parishioners in all the churches and being a part of Christ’s mission for us to welcome everyone, and build His kingdom of love, hospitality, faith and justice for all who we meet”.