08.11.2026
The Revd Ken Rue Appointed Chaplain to St John’s Sandymount
The Revd Ken Rue has been appointed as the new Chaplain to the Church of St John the Evangelist, Sandymount, Dublin. Ken retired as Rector of Narramore, Timolin, Castledermot and Kinneagh in May. He will take up the post in January 2027 and his appointment was announced this morning.
Welcoming the news Archbishop Michael Jackson said: “I am very happy that the Reverend Ken Rue has accepted the invitation of the Trustees of St John’s to become their Chaplain. Ken has served with constancy and faithfulness. His instinct is to build up The Kingdom of God in the place where he serves. I have every confidence he will do this in St John’s as this community moves forward in faith into a new era.”
Chairperson of the Trustees of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Nicola Benson added: “We are delighted to welcome the Reverend Ken Rue to our little church in the middle of the road. We are impressed by his warm and friendly manner, and his openness to understanding and practicing our particular form of Anglican worship.”
In response Ken said: “Our God has a way of surprising us. When I retired in May from full–time ministry in the wonderful parish of Narraghmore, Timolin, Castledermot and Kinneagh, I did not envisage another ministerial appointment. So, I am grateful to the Trustees of St John the Evangelist for appointing me as Chaplain to their congregation. I have already met a number of members and am excited and encouraged by their commitment and friendliness.”
St John’s is an unusual, if not unique, church. It was founded as a trustee Church of Ireland church by Sidney Herbert, brother of the Earl of Pembroke, in 1850. It has no parish but is a landmark in Sandymount. There is still a pew reserved for the Earl of Pembroke in St John’s. Since its foundation, St John’s has been known for Anglo–Catholic worship, a tradition that continues today.