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John "Jack" Shearer OBE (30 December 1926 – 12 January 2001) was a Church of Ireland clergyman and the Dean of Belfast cathedral.

Life

He was born in Belfast and educated at Belfast Technical High School before studying at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in 1950.

He was ordained in 1950. After two years in Magheralin Parish, County Down he served for seven years in St Patrick's Parish, Ballymacarrett, before becoming rector of Magheradoll, Ballynahinch. He then became Rector of Seagoe from 1964 to 1985, becoming Archdeacon of Dromore in 1970. He was appointed Dean of Belfast in 1985.

As dean he worked with his Roman Catholic opposite number to organise combined community services and other bridge building activities. He continued the tradition of the "Black Santa", holding "sitouts" during the Christmas period which raised millions of pounds for charity and in 1993 was awarded the OBE for services to the community. During his time as dean he oversaw the major reorganisation of the Cathedral precincts, the provision of facilities at the West Front for physically challenged persons and dedicated the "Patience", "Faith" and "Charity" stained glass windows.

He died in post in 2001. He had married Morag Williamson and left two children.

References

1. "Deans of Belfast since 1904". Belfast Cathedral. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009.
2. Who was Who 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
3. "Awkward Organs". Mander Organs. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011.

External links

• Jack Shearer obituary

• 1926 births
• 2001 deaths
• Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
• Deans of Belfast
• Officers of the Order of the British Empire
• Archdeacons of Dromore