Rev Nigel Cairns, 51, has transitioned from a career in education to a life in ministry, becoming the new Dean of Derry for the Church of Ireland. He shared that he never harbored “any doubts” about embarking on this new path.
Cairns left his position as principal of Omagh Integrated Primary School in 2014 to pursue training for ministry. His spiritual journey saw him ordained as a deacon in 2016, a priest a year later, and now, after what he describes as “quite an extraordinary journey,” he is the Dean-elect at the historic St Columb’s Cathedral in his native Londonderry. He will also serve as rector for the new parish grouping of Templemore and St Augustine’s within the city.
Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Cairns explained that he had extensive experience as a teacher before deciding to follow a different calling. The Dean-elect, a married father of two, grew up in the Waterside area and received his education at local institutions including Lisnagelvin Primary School, Clondermott High School, Foyle College, and Stranmillis University College, where he qualified as a primary school teacher. He taught in Limavady, Artigarvan, and Omagh before committing to ministerial training.
Cairns recounted that he and his wife Alison, a nurse, were “quite well-off, middle class, house, couple of cars, all the rest of it” when he felt that “there must be more to life than this.” An “increased calling to ordained ministry” guided him to his current role.
He emphasized that ministry is “more than a job, it’s a life of calling and of service,” and believes his skills as a teacher and school principal are directly applicable to his pastoral responsibilities. “I’m from the city, I feel I have a reasonable understanding of the dynamics within the city and the groups that operate at different levels,” he stated. He aims to strengthen the existing close working relationships between Christian denominations in Londonderry, his hometown. “We do see unity in virtually everything that we do, so all of those things are for the greater good,” he affirmed, adding, “I think tolerance and respect has to be in the mix of all that’s done.”
Cairns is set to officially succeed Rev Raymond Stewart in his new role.
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