Kerr, Cecil George

by Linde Lunney

Kerr, Cecil George (1936–2010), clergyman, was born on 21 November 1936 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, second of four sons of Hugh Kerr, a farmer at Culkey, near Bellanaleck, and Caroline Kerr (née Cathcart). He was educated in Enniskillen at Portora Royal School. Deciding to become a clergyman, in April 1954 he entered TCD, and studied history and philosophy, then switched to Hebrew, Oriental languages and divinity; he came head of his class in his third year, during which he won the Carson Bible prize (1960). He held all offices in the Christian Union, including president, and was auditor of the Theological Society. Popular and sporting, he was prominent in the Harriers Club and was sports editor of Trinity News. Despite his involvement in the religious life of the college, he experienced religious doubts at this period, and was always grateful to the professor of physiology, David Torrens (qv), whose example and encouragement enabled Kerr to renew his Christian faith and to proceed to be ordained as a deacon in 1960.

Until 1963 he was a curate in St Patrick's, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, but never afterwards worked in a parish setting. He was head of religious instruction in Annadale Grammar School in south Belfast until 1965, and then was chosen to become the Church of Ireland chaplain in QUB, where he was very popular and developed a high profile through activities in the university and beyond. He was strongly influenced by Ray Davey (d. 2012), then the presbyterian chaplain in QUB, who founded the Corrymeela Community in 1965; for the rest of Kerr's career, ecumenical witness was a crucial concern. His time in QUB coincided with the start of the Northern Ireland 'troubles'. In 1968 he and the other chaplains expressed support for students who held a vigil for peace in St Anne's cathedral in Belfast, and in 1972 he was widely quoted as saying: 'We must find a way to live together or we shall die together' (Ir. Times, 1 May 1972). Kerr increasingly encountered students who had been seriously affected by the civil unrest and he developed an interest in pastoral work. He lectured in QUB on Biblical studies and pastoral counselling between 1973 and 1976.

In 1971 three Americans visited Belfast and talked to Kerr about the religious movement then developing in the episcopalian (anglican) Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas; this was one of the churches in the United States where pentecostal outpourings and a new style of charismatic worship were attracting scores of believers. Kerr had an opportunity to visit Houston as he was researching pastoral centres in the United States, and was amazed by the emotion with which the congregation expressed their convictions. On his return to Belfast, he read widely in the theology of the new forms of spirituality, and was also attracted by the ideas about communities of believers being developed by the influential Revd Graham Pulkingham of Houston. Increasingly dissatisfied with the divisions and with the conventions of religious practice in Northern Ireland, but at the same time wary of becoming an object of ridicule as a fanatic, Kerr hesitated over his future, but in a retreat in Murlough, Co. Down, had a deeply moving religious experience. Forthwith he began to plan to establish an ecumenical and charismatic community, turned down two more conventional job opportunities in parish and missionary work, and soon afterwards resigned his salaried post.

Gifts of money from many people who shared Kerr's vision for a place of prayer, renewal and reconciliation were used to establish and maintain a charitable trust, and enabled Kerr and his wife to buy a large, dilapidated Victorian house in Rostrevor, Co. Down, on the shore of Carlingford Lough. This became the Christian Renewal Centre. The fledgling community moved into the premises in August 1974, and the balance of the purchase price of £16,000 was paid on 31 December of that year. The centre was later expanded and developed at the cost of £326,000. For more than thirty years, until 2010, churchmen and -women of all denominations, and people from all kinds of backgrounds, came there to live together, to explore Christianity and to worship together. The centre was used for conferences, residential courses and workshops. Kerr and his confreres found themselves on occasion praying and singing in tongues; preaching was emotional, and music was central to their worship. Kerr became known as a speaker throughout Ireland. The experience of sharing in charismatic services was, for some, shocking in its novelty, and often encouraged participants to reassess their views about society, politics and life in Ireland. On Pentecost Sunday, 7 June 1981, ten thousand people from all over Ireland came to open-air services in Downpatrick, to hear Kerr's message that 'reconciliation is the very heart of the gospel', and to pray for peace and increased ecumenical understanding between Christians.

Among other ways of outreach, Kerr in 1972 promoted a musical called 'Come together in Jesus's name', with the American crooner Pat Boone as the star when it was performed in Belfast. Kerr was also asked to speak on many occasions about the new religious experience, and to preach, in South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Mauritius, New Zealand and Australia. His influence was noted in Christian communities throughout the world, 'way beyond any bishop and way beyond the Church of Ireland' ('Bishop Harold Miller honours'). In 1996 he took part in a celebrated peace service at the river Boyne, and he was one of the guests at a reception to mark the inauguration of President Mary McAleese in 1997.

Kerr married (21 July 1961) his college sweetheart, Myrtle Jessop, in Streete, Co. Westmeath; she also became a noted evangelical speaker, and supported Kerr's work. He was chosen one of the People of the Year in November 1986, in the awards programme sponsored by the New Ireland Assurance Company. Kerr published several books and pamphlets, notably The way of peace (1990), about his own religious experiences. Retiring in 2000, soon afterwards he began to experience symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and spent the last ten years of his life being cared for by his wife and then in a nursing home. He died on 26 August 2010 at Ardmaine nursing home, Newry, Co. Down, survived by his wife, two brothers, two sons and a daughter; two children had died as premature infants. In 2010 Myrtle Kerr was one of the trustees who decided to hand the Christian Renewal Centre over to an organisation called Youth with a Mission, so that the centre's Christian outreach would continue.