A highly respected former Rector of St Saviour’s (Dobbin) and Kilmore Parish Churches in Armagh diocese, the Rev Canon Francis Kenneth (Ken) Livingstone, has died at the age of 85.
A tribute in the Portadown Times states:
He was appointed to The Dobbin in 1962 and served there until 1983, with Kilmore added in 1979 when they became joint parishes.
The parish meant so much to him and his family that the funeral service was from St Saviour’s, and interment was in the adjoining churchyard, even though he was curate and then rector at various parishes throughout Ireland. One of the true scholars of the Church of Ireland, his memory is treasured.
In his funeral address, The Venerable Raymond Hoey, Archdeacon of Camlough and Mullaghglass – who also served in the Portadown area – described him as “a very fine preacher: his voice, his delivery and the content of his sermons were first-class”. He added that a lady parishioner once told him that Ken Livingstone could say as much in eight minutes as most preachers could in 28!
Ken Livingstone was born in the County Mayo coastal town of Westport on March 18, 1926, where his father was station master and his mother a primary school teacher. He was educated in the King’s School, Dublin, after which he moved to Trinity College Dublin and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree, then his Divinity Testimonium the following year.
He was made Deacon that same year, and in 1950, he was ordained a priest of the Church of Ireland. His first post was as Curate of Santry Union, Dublin (1949-52), followed by a second curacy in Dublin at the Parish of St George (1952-57).
During his sojourn at St George’s, on September 8, 1953, he married Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Armstrong, and they would have celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2013 – the wedding was in St Michael’s, Blackrock, Cork. He was then appointed Incumbent of Castledermot Union (Diocese of Glendalough, County Wicklow) where the family remained until 1962.
His next stop was County Armagh, firstly at St Mark’s in the City of Armagh, and then from 1966-1983 to the St Saviour’s (Dobbin) and to Kilmore. His final incumbency was in Donaghmore and Donaghmore Upper in County Tyrone.
As well as his wife Betty, Canon Livingstone is survived by his two sons and two daughters, Keith, Brian, Jennifer and Shirley, and grandchildren David, Adam, Claire, Ruth, Patrick, Lauren, Nathan, Thomas, Stefan and Aaron.
During his address, Archdeacon Hoey said that the family generations would cherish Canon Livingstone’s memory – as a man so special to them, “the man of fun, wisdom, laughter, the handyman, the gardener, the caravanner, the walker, the man people respected”.
He added, “Ken Livingstone was a man of high intellect with a penetrating mind and many talents. He was a considerable scholar, having studied Mental and Moral Philosophy. For a time he was a lecturer in Logic in Trinity College Dublin.”
He was gifted musically, and served as an Honorary Vicar Choral of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, for almost 30 years and represented the Diocese of Armagh as Prebendary of Yagoe in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, from 1985 until his retirement. He also served on many committees of the Church of Ireland, including General Synod and the Armagh Diocesan Synod and Council. For many years he was Honorary Secretary of the Armagh Diocesan Board of Religious Education.
Said Archdeacon Hoey, “In retirement he joined the wonderful team of retired clergy and readers who helped me as Archdeacon to cover services week after week throughout the diocese, in cases of vacancies or clergy illness. Nothing was too much difficulty, even a journey in deep snow and via the ditch to Drumnakilly one Christmas Day!”
The services in St Saviour’s and at the graveside were conducted by the Rector, the Rev Malcolm Kingston, and the ‘Farewell in Christ’ and Benediction were spoken by the Archbishop of Armagh the Most Rev Alan Harper.
Donations in lieu of flowers are to the Alzheimer’s Society and to C.U.R.E. (Craigavon Urological Research and Education), via Joseph Poots and Son, 42 Bridge Street, Portadown BT63 5AE.