King's Honours 2023: Rev Steve Stockman reflects - ‘They said I would get nowhere with long hair and Beatles T-Shirts’

He is perhaps best known for the annual 4 Corners Festival in Belfast, which he founded in 2012 together with Fr Martin Magill from St John’s parish church on the Falls Road.

They describe it as a hybrid sacred-secular festival which aims to build bridges across the city.

He also made headlines last year when he shook hands with Pope Francis - together with Fr Magill - when the Pontiff visited Dublin.

"I'm not good at taking praise so I'm trying to work my way into this," he told the News Letter about his MBE.

"But it's nice to be affirmed for the stuff you do on a daily basis for the past 10-15 years. That is a wonderful thing to feel."

He has no idea who put him forward for the award.

The cleric previously hosted a weekly radio programme on Radio Ulster where he played his favourite rock music - especially U2, a band about which he published a succesful book.

And he has long had a reputation of challenging religious institutions and status quo.

Asked if it was not therefore inevitable that - like so many in the world of rock and roll - he would eventually be embraced by the establishment, he laughed.

"The first time I would ever have thought of MBEs was when the Beatles were awarded them, so yeah."

"My biggest fear was, what if there's been an administrative error, and I've already told my cousin I've been awarded an MBE?"

But the news also caused him to think about his father and an uncle - both of whom he he lost last year. They would have been very proud of him, he says.

"I imagine I would have said to them: 'You told me to cut my hair and that I would get nowhere with my Beatles T shirts - and here we are - an MBE!" he chuckled.

Responding to suggestions that he has often been outspoken in critiquing religion, he replies: "I've just tried to be as true to the Jesus that find in the Gospels as possible. Sometimes the church seems a little bit like it has domesticated Jesus, and I've gone my own way."

He also paid tribute to his mentor at Fitzroy Presbyterian Church. "I stand on the shoulders of Ken Newell - that was a big lead into what I am doing."

While he has faced accusations that he has compromised the doctrinal position of the Presbyterian Church in some of his work, he disagrees.

Last year he was invited into Clonard Monastery on the Falls Road to give a talk on the Protestant theology of Mary. In his view he maintains his principles while keeping his arms open to others.

"And I think that's a great thing. We have a great respect for each other's differences and I've never had to compromise my faith."

His friend Fr Magill said he was "delighted" by the news.

"Steve has contributed so much over the years," he said. "I first got to know him through his radio programme on BBC Radio Ulster - I still miss it up on a Sunday evening. But just in terms of his commitment to peace and reconciliation over the years, I think this is a very fitting tribute to him."