The Reverend Wilfred Orr a Presbyterian minister who is an ecumenical canon of Belfast Cathedral was recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.
Canon Orr is minister of St John’s Presbyterian Church in Belfast and he was awarded the OBE for his services to the community.
Amongst those also recognised were Miss Rosemary Rainey, a member of the Methodist Church. A retired school teacher she has been chairman of the Belfast education Board during the recent and ongoing period of upheaval in the administration of education. She is a member of the Transferror Representatives’ Council.
Mr Philip Bolton, head of the music department at RBAI (Inst) was also recognised. He too has links with the cathedral.
There was a knighthood for the Oxford church historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of landmark works on Thomas Cranmer and the Reformation but perhaps best-known for his television series on the history of Christianity, comes as something of a rebuke to the Church of England. Macculloch turned to an academic career instead of his original intention of ordination because of the church’s attitude to gay people.
Sylvia Morris, head of the Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overy in Soutwark, rated outstanding by Ofsted, is also made a dame.