John "Jack" Shearer (30 December 1926 – 12 January 2001) was a

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the secon ...

clergyman and the

Dean of Belfast The Dean of Belfast is the senior official of St Anne's Cathedral in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland and head of the Chapter, its governing body. List of deans of Belfast * 1894–1899: Henry Stewart O’Hara; first dean of Belfast ( ...

cathedral.

Life

He was born in Belfast and educated at Belfast Technical High School before studying at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in 1950. He was ordained in 1950. After two years in Magheralin Parish, County Down he served for seven years in St Patrick's Parish, Ballymacarrett, before becoming rector of Magheradoll, Ballynahinch. He then became Rector of

Seagoe Saint Gobhan has long been linked with the parish of Seagoe – recorded for instance as ''Teach dho-Ghobha'' – in County Armagh, Ireland. This saint - ''Gobban find mac Lugdach'' (-639), was primarily known for his abbacy of the monastery ...

from 1964 to 1985, becoming Archdeacon of Dromore in 1970. He was appointed

in 1985. As dean he worked with his Roman Catholic opposite number to organise combined community services and other bridge building activities. He continued the tradition of the "Black Santa", holding "sitouts" during the Christmas period which raised millions of pounds for charity and in 1993 was awarded the OBE for services to the community. During his time as dean he oversaw the major reorganisation of the Cathedral precincts, the provision of facilities at the West Front for physically challenged persons and dedicated the "Patience", "Faith" and "Charity" stained glass windows. He died in post in 2001. He had married Morag Williamson and left two children.

References

External links

Jack Shearer obituary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shearer, Jack 1926 births 2001 deaths Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Deans of Belfast Officers of the Order of the British Empire Irish Anglicans Archdeacons of Dromore