On Sunday morning 6 May 2018 the Parochial Nominators (Ken Dunn, Rosemary Macartney, Anne Twadell and Johnnie Wright (not present)) announced that at a meeting of the Board of Nomination on Thursday 3 May Canon Stephen Fielding, Rector of Agherton Parish, Portstewart had been offered and accepted the Incumbency of the Parish of Malone.

A native of Londonderry, Stephen has a degree in Economics and Geography from the University of Ulster and worked as a geological technical assistant in London before studying theology at Trinity College, Dublin.

As an Ordinand he spent a month in St John's with the then Rector, Archdeacon Alan Harper. After his ministry training he was curate in the parish of Bangor Abbey, Diocese of Down, and in 1997 he was appointed to the parishes of Templepatrick and Donegore, Diocese of Connor. He was Instituted as Rector of Agherton in April 2007.

Stephen has been a Minor Canon in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast and has lent his voice to lead worship on many important occasions. He was installed as a Chapter Canon of Belfast Cathedral a few weeks ago on Sunday 15 April 2018.

He is a member of the north coast chamber choir Cantemus.

His Institution, yet to be arranged, will be at the beginning of September.