Rev Julie Bell appointed to be new Vicar Choral at St Anne’s Cathedral
The Dean of Belfast announces the appointment of
the Reverend Julie Bell
to the position of Vicar Choral at Belfast Cathedral.
At the end of Choral Eucharist on Sunday morning 18th October, St Luke’s Day, the Dean of Belfast, the Very Reverend Stephen Forde announced the appointment of the Reverend Julie Bell to the position of Vicar Choral at St Anne’s Cathedral.
The Dean explained that following consultation with the Bishop of Connor, and with the approval of the Cathedral Board, he would be appointing a new clerical colleague to assist with the ministry and mission of the Cathedral. The position of Vicar Choral is significant in the life of St Anne’s Cathedral, and has been filled in the past by notable figures in the life of the cathedral.
Julie Bell has a 1st class Bachelor of Music degree from Queen’s University, specialising in Violin performance. She had also been principal violinist with the Ulster Youth Orchestra. Julie progressed to obtain an MA with distinction from QUB, in Baroque Music. She is also an accomplished church organist in her own right, most recently at St Malachi’s Parish, Hillsborough.
After three years study at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin, in 2015 Julie was ordained to the curacy of Christ Church Lisburn, where she served in full time ministry for 3 years. She was then appointed to a post at Down Cathedral and the Lecale Area Mission Partnership, working with Music at Down Cathedral and in pastoral ministry with the 13 churches which make up LAMP.
Since 2025, as a peripatetic musician, Julie Bell has been an invaluable assistant to Mr Jack Wilson strengthening and developing the music department of Belfast Cathedral. In particular Julie has already contributed significantly to the musical development of the cathedral’s choristers and choristers’ choir.
In her new cathedral position as Vicar Choral, Julie will become a full member of the cathedral clergy team, with a priority focus, not only on the musical development of the choristers, but also the pastoral care of the choristers, chorister families and choir members.
Julie also serves as a member of the central Church of Ireland’s Liturgical Advisory Committee. With this experience and expertise she has an invaluable contribution to make in further developing the worship and worshipping life of cathedral. This will be in addition to her contribution to the pastoral care of the cathedral parishioners, and cathedral visitors.
It is planned that a Service of Installation for Julie as Vicar Choral will take place within the morning service on Sunday 22nd November, 2026.
Dean Forde said:
“Julie is a person of deep personal faith and integrity. She cares passionately, not only about music within the worshipping life of the church, but also about the people who serve the church through music.
She has a winning way with our choristers, and will bring both her musicianship and her pastoral care to this new role as Vicar Choral at Belfast Cathedral.
With great pleasure, I look forward to sharing this next phase in the life of St Anne’s Cathedral with Julie, as together we strengthen the life and witness of this cathedral in partnership with the staff, the members of the music department, and the parishioners of this very special place.”