The Church of Ireland Gazette
The Church of Ireland Gazette is a monthly magazine covering news, commentary, and faith-based reflection from across the Church of Ireland. Though rooted in the Anglican tradition, it maintains full editorial independence. It is published by Church of Ireland Press on the second Friday of each month, with both print and digital editions, and an approximate circulation of 5,000 copies.
History
Founded in March 1856 under the title The Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette, the publication began as a monthly journal. It became a weekly newspaper in 1880 and was renamed The Church of Ireland Gazette in 1900. In January 2019, it reverted to a monthly format and adopted a more reflective, magazine-style approach.During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Gazette operated from 61 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, where it was printed by James Charles & Sons. A new company, Church of Ireland Printing and Publishing Ltd., was formed in 1897. The paper remained at Middle Abbey Street until the 1960s. It notably continued through national crises, including the 1916 Easter Rising—although publication was suspended for one week, it resumed with a combined issue.
The Irish Church Directory, later published as The Church of Ireland Directory, was also produced from the same address between 1862 and 1966, before moving to Mark Street, Dublin.
Recent developments
In 2025, Clark Brydon was appointed editor and announced plans to modernise the magazine. His editorial vision includes a renewed emphasis on investigative journalism, deeper theological engagement, and broader coverage of social, cultural, and ethical issues from a Church of Ireland perspective.As part of its ongoing evolution, the Gazette continues to balance historical awareness with contemporary relevance, contributing to public discourse within and beyond the Church.
Editors
The editors of the Gazette have included clergy, journalists, and academics. The list below presents editors in chronological order:| Name | Tenure | Notes |
| Revd James Anderson Carr | 1871–1893 | |
| Revd Canon Courtenay Moore | 1893–1897 | |
| Revd Canon Charles Irvine Graham | 1897–1905 | |
| Revd Warre B. Wells | 1906–1918 | Wrote the wartime column The War Week by Week |
| Revd George Ashton Chamberlain | 1919–1924 | |
| Revd Canon Hugh W. B. Thompson | 1924–1930 | |
| Revd Canon Ernest William Greening | 1934–1954 | |
| Revd Canon Frederick Andrew Graves Willis | 1959–1975 | Joint editor 1963–1966 |
| Rt Revd Gilbert Wilson | 1963–1966 | Joint editor with Andy Willis |
| Revd Houston McKelvey | 1975–1982 | Later Dean of Belfast |
| Revd Canon Cecil Cooper | 1982–2001 | |
| Revd Canon Ian M. Ellis | 2001–2017 | |
| Revd Earl Storey | 2017–2019 | |
| Ms Karen Bushby | 2019–2020 | First female editor |
| Ms Emma Blain | 2020–2024 | Journalist and communications professional |
| Mr Clark Brydon | 2025–present | Current editor; introduced a focus on modernisation. |
Notable contributors have included Frances Condell, the first female Mayor of Limerick.