By Danny Sinopoli Shouldering questions over his suitability and the secretiveness of the selection process, the Rev. Ewen Ratteray of St. John's Church in Pembroke has been chosen to succeed the Venerable Thomas Dyson as Anglican Archdeacon of Bermuda.

Thanking him for his years of "outstanding service,'' the Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Rev. William Down, announced the Archdeacon's retirement yesterday. He will step down on September 21.

Archdeacon Dyson, who has served as Archdeacon for 12 years, has also functioned as acting Bishop on those occasions when a new one had yet to be appointed. A well-liked figure, he was born in the United Kingdom and has lived on the Island since 1957.

The appointment of Mr. Ratteray as the Archdeacon's replacement came as a "great surprise to all the senior clergy'', Canon Thomas Nisbett told The Royal Gazette .

"It seemed to have been a great secret,'' he said. "We were not consulted about it at all.'' As senior Canon -- followed in order of seniority by Canon Arnold Hollis of St. James Church in Sandys Parish, and Canon James Francis, Canon Residentiary at the Anglican Cathedral, -- Canon Nesbitt, said senior clergy should have been allowed to play a more active role in the decision process.

"We were completely ignored and I don't think any of us are very happy about that,'' said Canon Nesbitt, vicar of Christ Church in Devonshire.

When asked about the particulars of his appointment, Mr. Ratteray would say only that he realised he was in contention for the position when he was approached by the Bishop three weeks ago.

"It's all very new (and) quite unexpected,'' he said.

Speaking from the rectory at St. John's, Rev. Ratteray would not speculate on why he in particular might have been chosen.

"You'd have to ask the Bishop that,'' he said. "He made the appointment.'' Bishop Down would not offer any explanations.

"It was my decision to make and I made it,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

"I'm not going to discuss it.'' Part of the surprise over Rev. Ratteray's appointment stems from his relatively low standing in the church hierarchy. The "least senior'' member of the church's senior clergy, he returned to Bermuda from England some 14 years ago and has kept a comparatively low profile.