On Sunday 15 September 2013 Rod Smyth was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Alan Abernethy in St Anne's Cathedral Belfast.

Rod is from St Gall's, Carnalea. He was a chorister in St Anne's and also a Bass Lay Clerk whilst studying music at Queen's University. He has served as Parish Organist in St Gall's for some twenty years.

For the last 33 years Rod has worked in education, recently leaving the post of Head of Senior School at Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College. He has also been an examiner with CCEA.

Rod is married to Rosemary and their family Jonathan and Rachel both work amd live in London..

During his theological training Rod has had experience of parish ministry in different contexts, having undertaken parish placements in Knocknagoney, St George's and St Mark's, Dundela.

Having finished his initial training at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute Rod comes to St John's as Deacon Intern. During his year with us he will be researching a dissertation entitled "Help in the land of forgetfulnes" The Church's response to an ageing population: The provision of initial training for clergy and laity in the pastoral care of dementia sufferers in the Diocese of Connor.