Biography

Adrian McCartney

was born, grew up and still lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland,
was a long distance runner in his youth,
fell in love with Janice while at university, and married her when they were both teachers,
has had three children since then (Ruth, Rachel, Joel and one granddaughter, Iris),
became an Anglican priest at 31, and has tried to be that since then, although not always successfully or willingly,
can’t see the point of being a follower of Jesus if it does not turn everything upside down,
has always been imaginative and willing to try, thus the many attempts to mould church and mission into new shapes,
hates seeing things that could be better; but realises the challenge, of course, is doing something about it (this can get you into trouble)
was part of a great idea which became known as StreetReach in the noughties, a way of doing mission that puts the church back on the street – “revival is sweeping the streets of Belfast”,
launched a new idea called “Boring Wells” in 2002 – building Christian community around mission rather than around the inherited model of church programmes (it is going rather well),
is in his early sixties and starting all over again, this time in Belvoir Parish, a vibrant community of faith on the edge of south Belfast – Facebook it!

(still on the boards of Boring Wells and Summer Madness, two great pioneer organisations clinging to the Church of Ireland).