The Rector of St Macartin's Cathedral and Enniskillen parish, Precentor Brian Courtney held his last service on Sunday evening last before taking up his retirement, with his wife, Valerie in Carrickfergus.
A lover of 'Westerns', he rode into the sunset, taking with him memories of 14 years in the parish and, prior to that, five years in Aghavea and, then, ironically, Carrickfergus. Reverend and Mrs Courtney's two children, Emma and Timothy were each born in two earlier parishes in the greater Belfast area.
Coming to a rural parish like Aghavea, in 1978 was something of a culture shock as he notes in the May newsheet: 'Before Aghavea, I never realised the importance of every country lane, and one of the big differences I found was a reticence to publicly express an opinion. I had been used to the 'in your face' Belfast attitude."
He admits that, as a result of his time there, he got a greater appreciation of what it means to be a pastor.
The move to Enniskillen came in 1995, at a time, he recalls, when the Enniskillen Bomb (1987) was still fresh. However, thanks to the public spirited contribution of people from all sides, 'things definitely held together'.
His congregation numbers between 1,100–1,200 which, with his home and hospital visits, makes it one of the busiest on the rural circuit.
"Can I say you could not get better workers, people who you just know you can depend on week in and week out, men and women. Then, we would have two church wardens who do a two-year term and one or other changes every year. The new ones seem to rise to the demands on them.
"Our parish is administered by a Select Vestry and, again we have enjoyed a great working relationship with them. It is very well served by people like Sam Morrow, its secretary and Norman Hilliard, who has been its treasurer for 52 years."
Rev. Courtney has also enjoyed an excellent relationship with clergy from the other three main churches, among them Monsignor Sean Cahill, who was parish priest of St Michael's, Enniskillen and his successor, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness.
"Sean was very restraining and steady and compassionate in his response at the time of the Enniskillen bomb. Enniskillen still bears the scar but I think things have recovered fairly well. While Fermanagh has 60,000 people, there is a sense of identity about it that helps overcome a lot of the things which separate us."
In recent years, Rev. Courtney has been helped in the running of his cathedral parish by Rev. Betty Thompson and, until his successor is appointed, she will be a non-stipendiary minister in St Macartin's.
Having help like that meant that he got to visit parishioners in hospital and in the homes and, when time permitted, seeing people in their own home.
"It's nice when you get a new family moving in or a baptism and you're able to call with them. You're meeting people in all types of situations, some sad, some happy. The ministry has a lot of sides to it, and I've found it a very fulfilling career."
But, behind every good man is a good woman and, in his wife, Valerie, Rev. Courtney could count on someone to encourage him when that support was needed: "In the rough and tumble of parish life, wives take tumbles more seriously than their husbands."
So, what now?
Well, there's retirement in Carrickfergus and, already, he has been asked to help out here and there. He intends picking and choosing and finding more time for 'Westerns' ('I find they're a great morality tale'), reading and sport in general. He confessed to being a keen Spurs fan.
