Cork South & Kerry Circuit |
The Cork South & Kerry Circuit, in the south west of Ireland, is the largest geographical circuit in Irish Methodism. The circuit is served by two ministers: Rev. Karen Spence, the circuit superintendent, based in Killarney, has responsibility for Killarney, Kenmare and Millstreet and is exploring new work on the Dingle peninsula and Rev. Andrew Robinson, based in Cork, has responsibility for Cork, Kinsale and Youghal.
The Cork South & Kerry Circuit was renamed as such after the Annual Conference
of the Methodist Church in Ireland held at Ardfallen in Cork in June 2007.
Prior to this the circuit was known as the Cork Circuit although 2 of the
churches on the circuit were in Co. Kerry; these being Killarney & Kenmare.
Killarney had been part of the Tralee and Killarney Circuit but the church in
Tralee closed in the 1960's and for a number of years services were only held in
Killarney during the summer months as there was no regular congregation to
sustain all year round worship. There is now a strong congregation in
Killarney which necessitates 2 services on a Sunday morning. In January
2007 a new society was formed in Kenmare with weekly Sunday morning services and
an active Sunday School in a rented local premises. By March 2011 a new
church was opened in Kenmare.
The annual Methodist Church Conference, meeting in Carrickfergus in June 2013,
approved that Millstreet be received as a new society on the circuit.
Kinsale had been part of the West Cork Circuit but in 2003 it was transferred to
the Cork Circuit.
Youghal had been part of the Youghal & Dungarvan Circuit but when the church in
Dungravan closed, Youghal was then added to the Cork Circuit.
The work in Cork City itself has seen a remarkable transformation in recent
years as in the mid 1980's the old church in Patrick Street was closed & sold and a new
church complex was developed at Ardfallen, about 2 km to the south of the city
centre.