Canon Sam Wright

(Rector)

Sam enjoys football, bowling and takes an interest in sport. He likes to go to the movies, theatre and concerts. His wife Paula, and now grown up children and his grandchildren are the people he loves being with most, so family occasions, home comings, and holidays are precious times for them to share together.

He came to know Christ in a personal way as a teenager through Scripture Union camps.  Ballyholme Parish, Bangor is where he grew up and he has been involved with the Church Mission Society for the past 30 years. He previously served in inner city Belfast and in two rural parishes near Enniskillen and became Rector of the Cathedral in February 1999. 

He is passionate about offering relevant teaching and worship, and he is deeply engaged with our parish mission link in the Diocese of Yei in South Sudan, which he visited in 2010.

You can email Sam. His day off is Monday.

Rev Simon Genoe

(Curate)

Simon was born and bred in Monaghan, and became a Christian at the age of 13 in Wicklow.  Since school, Simon had a year out in Larne working for the Church of Ireland Youth Department, studied teacher training for four years at Stranmillis in Belfast and then went to Theological College in Dublin to become a minister. 

He has been with us at the Cathedral since 2009 and is loving it.

He’s passionate about Liverpool Football Club, watching movies and hanging around with his lovely wife Zara.  He loves sharing about the Lord Jesus, through preaching and through conversations, and seeing people grow in faith.

You can email Simon.  His day off is Friday.

Keith Neill

(Youth Worker)

Keith lives in Portadown, with his wife Jennifer and has two grown up children Cheryl and Simon.  Over the years Keith has worked in Sports retail, owned his own business before moving into Youth Ministry 17 years ago in St Mark’s Portadown and with CPAS as their Youth and Children’s Advisor.   

Keith was employed by Lisburn Cathedral in 2003 as Youth Outreach Co-ordinator and it was in that September Fusion began.   His passion is to reach out to young people that are on the margins and who need to discover the reality of Jesus in their lives. Committed to journeying long term with young people and investing in them spiritually is a driving force behind Keith’s ministry.

He is fanatical about the awesome Manchester United, enjoys playing sport and loves listening to music especially U2, Snow Patrol, Tim Hughes and Rend Collective.

You can email Keith. 

Karen Webb

(Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator)

Karen has been worshipping at Lisburn Cathedral for over 20 years.  After graduating from Queens in 1984 she spent 2 years in Kenya as a teacher with Church Missionary Society Ireland. On returning she worked with CMSI as Education Secretary for 8 years.  Following the births of her two daughters, she was a full-time mum with part-time stints in local shops.  

Karen’s own journey of faith began at the age of 8 and she is passionate about encouraging children in their walk with God.  She works with John O’Neill in Schools ministry and with her love of drama, also enjoys an exciting puppet ministry.  

In 2009, Karen joined the Lisburn Cathedral staff as part-time Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator.  She became a full-time student with Church Army in September 2011 and hopes to be commissioned in July 2013.

Karen is married to Tim (below), and they have two daughters, Amy and Caroline.

Captain John O Neill

(Church Army Evangelist)

John was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester in 1959 and he grew up in a large family who were from a working class background, with no meaningful church connection. Upon leaving secondary school John eventually settled into a career as a hairdresser that he did for 12 years. During this time he began to question the meaning and purpose of life, the existence of God and life beyond the here and now. At the age of 23, John made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and has sought to grow in this relationship.  

John is married to Joanne, and they have two sons, Nathan and Thomas.  John would say that his passion in Ministry has been working with people of all ages and backgrounds. His favourite verse of Scripture is ‘Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have in Christ, but do this with Gentleness and Respect.’ 1 Peter 3v15

In his spare time John not only enjoys spending quality time with his family and their dog (whose name happens to be ‘Harley’), he also loves motor biking and playing music (not at the same time) as a means of relaxing from the stresses and business of daily life, and as many people in Lisburn Cathedral now know he is also a keen amateur ‘people’ photographer. His motto for life is ‘Work hard – Play harder’.

Garvin Jess

(Parish Administrator)

Garvin has attended Lisburn Cathedral since the early 1970’s, he went to Sunday School and Youth Fellowship here. He  became a committed follower of Jesus when he was 16, although, he says ‘many seeds were planted in his heart from a young age through godly parents, Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. He married Frances in 1987, and they have 2 daughters, Aimee and Chloe. He has served the church as Parish Administrator for 3 years, and sees the role as a real opportunity to use his skills and experience for God’s glory and the furthering of His kingdom.

Garvin is currently engaged in training as a lay reader, a calling that he put off for a long time. He hopes to be a help to people in their walk with God, through leading services and preaching God’s Word.  Garvin enjoys walking, reading and films, also tinkles on the guitar.

Aaron Boyce (Part-time Worship leader)

Aaron grew up in Ballynahinch in a Christian household, and grew up in the church family of Ballynahinch Baptist Church. In his spare time, he loves hanging out with friends, having great conversations, travelling, and trying to improve as a musician!

New to the Cathedral, and having just returned from a year of Worship Pastor training in London with Worship Central, Aaron's passionate about seeing the outworking of that in the Church, and bring back what he's learnt! He'll be joining the team in September 2012, and is really looking forward to seeing lives changed and community built up, as we go through this time of exciting transformation. He's passionate about seeing more people growing in their spiritual gifts, encountering God in exciting ways and worshipping in spirit and truth, and pray and hopes that we’ll see some fantastic musicians, leaders and followers of Christ raised up in the Cathedral in both the near and distant future, so that we can transform this city!