Cotton College-educated David Keniry, born in 1937, received a clear calling to priesthood in Lourdes following his National Service. Having trained for the priesthood first at Grove Park, Warwick and then at Oscott College, he was ordained in 1965. His first curacy at Perry Barr with Fr. Sean McTernan was an experience of highly active parish ministry. A 4-year 'exchange' with Clifton diocesan priest Crispian Hollis (now Bishop of Portsmouth) next took him to St. Peter's, Gloucester - a parish with 13 Sunday masses!

Returning to the Birmingham diocese in 1970, he spent 4 years back at Cotton as Prefect of Discipline. He became curate at St Michael's Wolverhampton, from 1974 until 1978, with Canon Woodward.

A brief period of seventeen months followed at Christ the King, Coventry where he ran Renewal Seminars, averaging around 80 attendees, the first being at the Daughters of St Paul Potters Green convent, which is now the Ark of the Covenant!

His first parish as Parish Priest followed in 1979. Ilmington and Shipston-on-Stour were combined with ancient Brailes, home of the first Vicar Apostolic after the Reformation. The united new parish was 'A Poor Mission Parish' receiving significant support from the diocese. Fr David recalls his first mass at Shipston-on-Stour with 20 people and offering of £12!

Around this time Fr David was instrumental in founding the Birmingham Charismatic Renewal Conference and regular masses with healing prayer which were held around Birmingham, most notably at Kings Heath.

1987 saw him move to Chasetown. New ministries grew with increased emphasis on youth work and evangelisation. The parish became the hub of a prayer-based group known as Spirit of Truth, more familiar to us in St. Peter's because of the family and youth camps at Hilton.

Fr David's move to Leamington in 1996 was challenging as it followed a painful period for St Peter's. His pastoral gifts were in great demand, but he was tested when the church, hall and presbytery were swamped by the River Leam flood on Good Friday 1998. Nevertheless, the devoted community managed to prepare the church to celebrate the Holy Saturday vigil mass! However, subsequent work to restore the fabric and quality of the buildings took 2 years, cost nearly £1million and placed massive demands on Fr David.

In 2002 he was finally released to pursue his vision for a centre for prayer and evangelisation, which had been with him for some ten years. Generous encouragement from the sisters of the Selly Park community, a major donation and committed support, saw the Ark of the Covenant Trust become reality in the refurbished Potters Green convent. In November 2003 Fr David's vision of a diocesan centre where laity could be formed and empowered in prayer and evangelisation - the Ark - was opened and endorsed by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

For further information or comments please contact info@stpeterapostle.org