31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Cecil was a wonderful Christian man': Tributes paid to Irish Archdeacon who officiated Paul McCartney's wedding
The retired clergyman passed away in hospital, surrounded by his family on Tuesday.
In 2002, Archdeacon Pringle played a key role in pop culture history when he officiated the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.
The couple were wed in Castle Leslie, Co Monaghan in front of 300 guests, the pair kept the wedding a secret from the media leading up to the big day.
At the time Archdeacon Pringle spoke to the Belfast Telegraph about keeping the secret: "I don't find it hard if someone tells me something in confidence. That never crosses my lips. The same would apply to any marriage I conducted.
'There are certain matters that are private and it's not my business to put them in the public domain," he said.
Archdeacon Pringle was born outside Clones, Co Monaghan in 1943. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1965 and was ordained in 1967.
He spent his curacy in Belfast before his first appointment as a Rector in Clogher Diocese from 1969 to 1980.
He was then appointed Rector of Rossorry Parish where he remained for most of his ministry from 1980 until 2008.
In 2008, Archdeacon Pringle, after almost 28 years as rector, resigned from the parish of Rossorry and continued ministry as a Bishop's Curate in the Drumkeeran Group of Parishes where he remained until his retirement in 2018.
He has been remembered by figures in the Church of Ireland.
Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Fr Brian Darcy said: 'I learnt a lot from him, and I hope he learnt a lot from me. We were able to come together to pray and to support each other in various communities.'
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Fr Brian spoke about the special friendship he had with Archdeacon Pringle.
'We had a 30-year partnership that was wonderful and effortless in many ways. Once we made the initial contact, we knew it was not our work but God's work, though both of us had to lead to ensure it was done.'
He praised the work Archdeacon Pringle did in strengthening the faith of many around him.
'Cecil was a wonderful Christian man, a wonderful Christian leader and a genuine man of God.'
Archbishop John McDowell, in his tribute to Archdeacon Pringle, spoke of his unique form of ministry as well as his experience in administrative roles within the church.
'That was a ministry that Cecil had carried out with great diligence,' Archbishop McDowell said.
He also praised his work in strengthening cross-community relationships within the diocese.
Archbishop McDowell said that at a time of great division one of the Archdeacon Pringle's great strengths was to 'heal the wounds, to hold out the hand of friendship'.
The funeral service for Archdeacon Pringle will take place in Rossorry Parish Church on 1 August at 2pm followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard.
Archdeacon Pringle is survived by his wife, Hilary; son, Mark and daughters, Tanya and Claire and their families.
