The Iona Institute has announced that the Rt Revd. Ken Clarke, who retired as the Church of Ireland bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh last year after 13 years in the post, has agreed to become a new patron of The Iona Institute.

Bishop Clarke joins Iona’s other patrons: Professor Patricia Casey, Breda O’Brien, Professor Vincent Twomey and Dr James Sheehan.

Commenting on the development, the Chairman of The Iona Institute, Dr John Murray said: “We are very pleased and honoured that Bishop Clarke has agreed to become one of our patrons. The Iona Institute’s stances on issues like marriage and the family, denominational schools, the right to life and the place of religion in society are not specific to any particular Christian denomination and are in fact, inter-denominational. The fact that Bishop Clarke has agreed to be one of our patrons reflects this fact”.