New Vicar Choral appointed at Belfast St Anne's cathedral
The Rev Julie Bell is ushering in a new era with her appointment as Vicar Choral at Belfast’s St Anne’s Church of Ireland cathedral.
Dean Stephen Forde said the position was highly significant in the life of the cathedral. Rev Julie will be installed during the morning service on Sunday November 22.
Reacting to her appointment, Rev Julie said: “I am thankful to the Dean and cathedral board for this opportunity to share in the mission and ministry of Belfast Cathedral in the role of Vicar Choral.
“It has been a joy in recent years to work alongside Mr Jack Aston-Wilson, organist and master of music, and the music department, to foster the gifts of our choristers in the worshipping life of the cathedral.
"I hope to be constantly challenged and inspired in this role by the gifts of music in making deep connections, helping us to bear a part with one another, and opening us to the beauty, power and tenderness of God.
“I look forward to being rooted in the cathedral community and working alongside Dean Forde to continue to build friendships in the city and beyond.”
Julie has a first-class honours' degree in music from Queen’s University. Belfast, specialising in violin performance. She has also been principal violinist with the Ulster Youth Orchestra.
Julie progressed to obtain an MA with distinction in Baroque music from Queen’s, and is also an accomplished church organist, most recently at St Malachi’s parish church, Hillsborough.
After three years study at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin, Julie was ordained to the curacy of Christ Church, Lisburn in 2015, where she served in full-time ministry for three years when she was appointed to a post at Down cathedral in Downpatrick and the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP), working with music at Down cathedral and in pastoral ministry with the 13 churches which make up LAMP.
Dean Forde said that since 2025, as a peripatetic musician, Rev Julie has been an invaluable assistant to Belfast Cathedral’s Master of Music, Jack Wilson, strengthening and developing the cathedral’s music department. In particular, she has already contributed significantly to the musical development of the St Anne's choristers and choristers’ choir.
As Vicar Choral, Julie will become a full member of the St Anne's 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.
Rev Julie also serves as a member of the central Church of Ireland’s liturgical advisory committee.
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.”