By Dan Walsh
Canon Trevor Sargent, Rector of Bunclody Union in the Diocese of Ferns, has been appointed Rector of the Parish of St Ann with St Mark and St Stephen in Dublin.
Commenting on his departure from St Mary’s Rectory in Bunclody, Canon Sargent said: “It will be difficult and sad to leave all the many friends Áine and I have made in this active rural parish, but I am confident, by God’s grace, that Bunclody Union is in a good position to thrive and attract a new Rector who will bring fresh collaborative ideas to the work of witnessing to Christ’s love in this union of four parishes and in this farming community”.
A native of Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Trevor combined his early teaching career with living bilingually, by residing with a Gaeltacht family when teaching in the Model School, Dunmanway, Co Cork. On being appointed Principal of St George’s NS in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, Trevor immersed himself in parish and community life and was elected to Dublin County Council in 1991 and Dáil Éireann in 1992, representing Dublin North as a Green Party TD. He became the first leader of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, and later Minister of State for Food and Horticulture in the 2007–2011 coalition government.
After losing the general election in 2011, Trevor was asked to write and illustrate a book about his experiences of politics, agriculture, life and growing food in limited spaces, known as ‘Trevor’s Kitchen Garden’. Trevor and his partner, Áine Neville, then moved to Co Wexford, where they were married in St Enoch’s Church, Killinick, in 2014.
Following a time of prayerful discernment, and with the support of Bishop Michael Burrows, Trevor was selected for training to full–time ministry in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
He was ordained deacon in Shillelagh in 2017 and was ordained priest in Christ Church Cathedral Waterford in August 2018 and prior to that assisted in the Tullow Group of Parishes where he was ordained deacon in Shillelagh parish church in 2017.
On February 5th, 2021, Canon Sargent was instituted as Rector of Bunclody Union during the Covid–19 pandemic.
Canon Sargent collaborated with Dr Jeffrey Cox in developing a thriving St Mary’s Choir and young chorister programme, and with many others to organise table tennis, badminton, bowling, GFS and Boys Brigade, as well as Youth and Family Services in St Fiaac’s Church, Clonegal.
2026 has marked the 250th anniversary of St Mary’s Church, Canon Trevor has helped with the calendar of special occasions marking this milestone, not least the publication of Oliver Deacon’s beautifully illustrated and well researched landmark history of the parish.
Bunclody is also blessed with excellent primary and secondary schools, especially Carrigduff National School where he has chaired the Board of Management.
Bunclody Union of Parishes has four churches; St. Mary’s Church, Bunclody; St. Fiaac’s Church, Clonegal; St. Paul’s Church, Kildavin and St. Brigid’s Church, Kilrush.
