ABOUT

WHO WE ARE

About DDYC

Down and Dromore Youth, Children & Families

Down and Dromore diocese one of the 12 dioceses of the Church of Ireland and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our Bishop is Rt. Rev David McClay and the diocese is roughly equivalent to County Down in Northern Ireland, which contains around half a million people. Our 77 parishes minister in areas that range from inner city Belfast and Newry to rural areas such as Mourne and Strangford.

The Youth, Children’s and Families Department seeks to support and serve these parishes and leaders in whatever way we can to see their ministry develop and grow. We do this through an extensive team of dedicated volunteers and our core three staff:

Andrew

Andrew Brannigan has been involved in Down and Dromore since 1999 primarily as Diocesan Youth Officer. He has extensive experience to in the areas of youth ministry, young adults, training, family ministry and strategic development and outreach. He has also developed several books in recent years in the area of Confirmation, outreach ideas, youth and children’s games, Church of Ireland history and family devotions.

Andrew is the team leader for the Department but is also involved in several other areas of diocesan development that are not within this Department such as the Life Changing Leadership initiative, Diocesan Readers, parish outreach and strategic development, training and support for new church initiatives and plants.

If you want to contact Andrew please do so on andrew@downanddromore.org or 07950 846621.

Millie

Our Children’s Officer, Millie Bellew, has a PhD in Family Faith Formation. She previously worked with young adults in East Belfast, and joined the diocese team with a passion for developing leaders in their ministry with children. If her voice sounds familiar, she’s also a presenter on the Belfast-based Christian radio show Sunshine 104.9!

If you want to contact Millie please do so on millie@downanddromore.org or 07543478757.

Josh

Our Youth Development Officer, Josh Thornbury, has 10 years experience of delivering youth work. He previously worked with Seagoe Youth Group and with Dromore Youth for Christ. He is passionate to see young people engaging with the bible, opening it and reading it for themselves.

If you want to contact Josh please do so on josh@downanddromore.org or 07842910954.