The Rev. Michael A. Clarke D.Min (Trinity College U of T) graduated from Harrison College in 1978 and matriculated at UWI, Cave Hill campus in the same year. There he pursued a B.Sc degree with a special focus on Biochemistry. Graduating from the UWI he offered himself to test his vocation at Codrington College, the Anglican Seminary of the Church of the Province of the West Indies.
On successfully completing his time there, he left Codrington College in 1984, having attained a B.A. degree in Theology and a Diploma in Pastoral Studies. With this attainment he was accepted into Holy Orders and was ordained deacon on August 31st. 1984 and priested on the Eve of the Ascension in 1985.
Dr. Clarke pursued a career in the full-time ministry of the Church ministering at St. Peter’s Parish Church, St. Patrick’s Church, St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Ambrose Church, St. Philip’s Parish Church and more recently St. Thomas Parish Church.
In 1990 he left the diocese to study and work in the diocese of Toronto at St. Peter’s Church and St. Paul’s the Apostle Church while pursuing his Doctor of Ministry degree studies at Trinity the Toronto School of Theology, Trinity College, University of Toronto.
In 2001 he again left the diocese to take up the position of rector of St. Mary the Virgin, Virgin Gorda. There, in addition to his ministry to the community he reopened and reestablished the St. Mary’s School which had been closed for some 20 years.
Dr. Clarke was instrumental in creating the Anglican Youth Ministry Service, an agency of the diocese of Barbados which was set up to provide a service to parishes enabling those in Youth Ministry the opportunity to develop their skills and enable a greater engagement of young people within the Church in the several parishes. He served in this capacity from 1994- 2001.
In May 2015 Dr. Clarke was invited to serve the Province as Principal of Codrington College. This became official on August 1, 2015.
As principal of the College he is ex-officio to the Provincial Commission on Doctrine and the Provincial Commission on Ministry.
Dr. Clarke is currently chair of the USPG Communion-wide Advisory Group and would have been responsible for the staging of the USPG triennial Consultation in Barbados in June 2019.
Dr. Clarke is married to Michelle Harriet nee Wooding and their marriage produced a daughter, Michaela Ailsa.