The (Anglican) Church of Ireland has elected the Bishop of Connor, Alan Harper, 62, as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland. He succeeds Archbishop Robin Eames, who retired at the end of 2006 after more than 20 years at the post. Upon his retirement, Archbishop Eames was the senior primate in the Anglican Communion.

As Archbishop of Armagh, Bishop Harper is the 104th in the succession of abbots, bishops and archbishops of Armagh since St. Patrick. He will be enthroned in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on March 16.

The primate-elect made headlines in January when he said in an interview with the Irish Times that the ban on Roman Catholics becoming the British monarch should be abolished. The Act of Settlement of 1701 bans Catholics, or those married to Catholics, from ascending the British throne.

Staff, with files from ACNS