Abigail hails from Hampton, Virginia, in the United States. At university she studied international relations and Chinese, with hopes of a career as a diplomat in the US Foreign Service. After graduation she spent a year in China teaching English before undertaking postgraduate studies at the University of Hawai’i, continuing her academic interest in China and eventually taking up a position at the East–West Centre, the Honolulu–based organisation that had sponsored her studies.

While there she launched a leadership development programme for young women professionals from around the region and assisted in programmes bringing together mid–career journalists from the region to talk about issues of the day.

After six years Abigail felt the call to study theology and in 2008 began studies at Belfast Bible College and completed an MTh there in 2010. She then began her studies at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2012.

Abigail was Dean’s Vicar in Christ Church Cathedral since August 2016, prior to this she was Curate in the Christ Church Cathedral group and Intern Deacon in Glenageary, Diocese of Dublin.

Abigail has been Associate Minister in CUP since October 2022