The Rev. Dr. Paul McKeown

The Rev. Dr. Paul McKeown

Paul McKeown is from Ballymena in Northern Ireland and grew up within a stone's throw of Slemish mountain where St Patrick tended sheep as a slave boy. His background is in the sciences, studying Chemistry to doctorate level. He has, though, always had a keen interest in the spoken and written word. For over 30 years, he has crafted poetry, purely for pleasure.

A career change into ministry in the Church of Scotland in 1996 brought new challenges. After working in inner-city Glasgow, Paul is now minister of the rural parish of Belhelvie, north of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he lives with his wife, Rhona, and their three children: Ross, Mairi and Isla.

Paul counts Seamus Heaney, Robert Frost, Norman MacCaig and farmer-poet Wendell Berry among his poetic influences. When he's not writing, he's usually found with a guitar in hand, or – following a New Year's resolution - lacing up his running shoes. Spiritually, he's inspired by the work of Eugene Peterson, Rob Bell, Fred Buechner and Brian McLaren and has benefitted greatly from training in Ignatian spirituality.

Writing