Latest news from the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'

2009-11-21T06:00:00Z

Saturday 21 November 2009

Launch of New Book on St Werburgh’s
Next Thursday evening in St Werburgh’s Church, Dublin, Professor Raymond Gillespie, from NUI Maynooth, will launch the fourth volume in the RCB Library’s ‘Texts and Calendars’ series which is published by Four Courts Press.

The proctors’ accounts of the parish church of St Werburgh, Dublin, 1481-1627 has been edited by Canon Adrian Empey, Secretary of the Church of Ireland Historical Society and former Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College. Dr Empey has written widely on medieval Ireland and, in recent years, has been a regular contributor to the growing body of knowledge on the Irish medieval church.

The accounts, which form the text of this volume, are unique, for no other similar material has survived for any Irish parish church. They offer an insight into the life of a Dublin city parish church during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth - crucial periods in the history and development of the reformed church in Ireland – and provide a window into administrative practice and liturgical activity. Dr Empey’s introduction interprets the text not only in the context of Irish ecclesiastical life but in the wider sphere of the church in England and continental Europe.

Since last Thursday the Archbishop of Dublin has been in London to chair the Anglican Covenant Working group which meets until next Tuesday.

This morning (Saturday) the Monkstown Missionary Union Sale will be held in the Knox Hall and tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 7.30pm in the parish church the newly re-furbished organ will be re-dedicated in the context of Evensong. Following the service Professor Gerald Gillen will give a talk about the re-furbishment project followed by a short recital.

Tomorrow (Sunday) at Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, there will be a Commemoration for those who lost their lives in Irish Ships, 1939-45, and at 8pm the Gaudete Singers, directed by David Leigh, will give a recital in the Lady Chapel. The St Cecelia’s Day Evensong in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, will be the setting for the southern launch of Singing the Psalms (Year C). At 6pm the 5th Ecumenical Walk of Light, sponsored by the Dublin Council of Churches, will begin at the University Church, St Stephen’s Green, proceed to Christ Church, Leeson Park, and conclude in St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road.

On Tuesday the series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, organized by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (Irish Guild of the Church), continues. Daithi O Maolchoille will speak on ‘Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, 1914-2009: an Overview’ The lecture will be in English and will be followed by a short discussion at which contributions in Irish will be most welcome.

The changing nature of Irish society and the many challenges facing us both nationally and globally will be the focus of a panel discussion to be held in Trinity College, Dublin, on Saturday 28 November at 2.30pm. The event has been organized by the Church of Ireland Chaplaincy and the Open Christianity Network, Ireland and will bring together some of Ireland’s most respected commentators and thinkers. Justin Kilcullen, Director of Trócaire, Professor Ivana Bacik, Fr. Peter McVerry SJ and Professor Linda Hogan will give their views and will respond to questions from the floor. The discussion will be chaired by Bryan Dobson of RTÉ. This event is free of charge and open to the public. Numbers, however, are limited. To secure your place please contact the Dean of Residence, the Revd Darren McCallig at (01) 896 1402 or by email.

Standing Committee Ratifies Working Group's Response to NIO Consultation on the Consultative Group on the Past Report

2009-11-19T10:29:00Z

The Standing Committee of the Church of Ireland this week (17th November 2009) ratified the response of the Church’s Consultative Group on the Past Working Group to the Northern Ireland Office consultation on the recommendations of the Consultative Group on the Past. The Standing Committee also agreed to make the submission available: it can be read at www.ireland.anglican.org/officialsubmissions.

The Chairman of the Working Group, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Bishop of Clogher, said, ‘The process of engaging with the Report’s recommendations and the Secretary of State’s consultation was stimulating although some of the questions were also hard to address. As a group, we kept to the forefront the reality of the continuing suffering of those who are victims of the Troubles. Our response reflects the need for realism, urgency and a time frame for implementation.’ He continued, ‘We worked in partnership with those who were instrumental in our “Hard Gospel” project and on our current “Hard Gospel Implementation Group” as well as with the cross-community organization “Healing Through Remembering”.

The response states, ‘The Church is ready to make an ongoing contribution where it can helpfully do so in terms of the proposals that will emerge from the consultation.’ (Q.15, p.50)

For further information please contact:

Church of Ireland Press Office
Church of Ireland House
61-67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH

Tel: (028) 9023 2909
Fax (028) 9032 3554
Paul Harron: (duty phone) +44 (0)7787 881582
Janet Maxwell: (duty phone) +353 (0) 87 948 4412
E-mail: Press Office

Launch of 'Proctors' Accounts of St Werburgh'

2009-11-18T15:12:00Z

The proctors' accounts of the parish church of St Werburgh, Dublin 1481-1627, ed. Adrian Empey (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2009)
Launch: Thursday 26 November 2009, 18.00

A new book to be launched on Thursday 26 November 2009 in St Werburgh's church sees the publication of the only extant proctors' accounts for a parish in Ireland. Four Courts Press and the Representative Church Body Library have pleasure in inviting you to a reception at 6.00pm on Thursday 26 November 2009 in St Werburgh’s Church, Werburgh Street, Dublin 2 to mark the publication of The Proctors’ Accounts of the Parish Church of St Werburgh, Dublin, 1481-1627, edited by Adrian Empey. The book will be officially launched on the night by Professor Raymond Gillespie (Dept. History, NUI Maynooth).

The proctors’ accounts of St Werburgh’s are unique in that no similar body of material has survived for any other Irish parish. These lay sources reveal the workings of a parochial community, enabling comparisons to be made with contemporary parochial communities elsewhere in Europe. They also reveal a high level of lay participation in the religious life of the parish. The post-Reformation accounts belong chiefly to the Elizabethan period, indicating the extent to which earlier medieval practices had disappeared, at least from 1570 onwards. Together they add to our knowledge of the context of the religious upheavals in 16th-century Ireland.

The editor, the Revd Canon Dr Adrian Empey is secretary of the Church of Ireland Historical Society, a former precentor of Christ Church cathedral, Dublin and was principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College. To purchase the book online, please visit the Four Courts Press website.

Please click here for more information on the RCB Library's Texts and Calendars series.

TRC Meeting with NI First Minister On Future Of Controlled Schools

2009-11-17T09:38:00Z

CHURCH EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH FIRST MINISTER

Members of the Transferor Representatives' Council (TRC) yesterday, Monday 16th November 2009, met with the First Minister Rt Hon Peter D Robinson MP, MLA to express their concern regarding the future of Controlled schools in the administrative reform of Northern Ireland's education system.

The TRC represents the Presbyterian Church, the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church on education matters in Northern Ireland.

The TRC believes that the current proposals for the Controlled sector fall well short of delivering the strength and coherence that is proposed for other sectors. It understands that discussions are currently taking place between the political parties to find an equitable settlement for the Controlled sector.

TRC members stressed at their meeting today with the First Minister that this is a matter of parity of treatment. They welcomed the assurance of the First Minister that he too recognised this is an important issue of principle.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of the Transferor Representatives' Council.

Contact:

Stephen Lynas
Presbyterian Church Press Office
Church House
Belfast
BT1 6DW

Tel: 028 9032 2284
Fax: 028 9041 7307
Mobile: 07802 264 354

Kinawley Institution (Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh)

2009-11-16T12:24:00Z

The Revd Andrew Quill's institution to the Kinawley Group of Parishes on Friday 6th November 2009 at 8pm in Derrylin Parish Church.

Canon Walter Quill, Revd Andrew Quill, Rt. Revd. Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh

Revd Andrew Quill, Joanne Quill, their children and Canon Walter Quill

After the Service

June Whittendale and Joanne Quill

Tea in Derrylin Parish Hall after the service

For information please contact:
The Diocesan Communications Officer
Revd Craig McCauley
Tel: 049 8548 465
E-mail: Kilmore Diocesan Communications Office

Kilgariffe Institution (Cork, Cloyne & Ross)

2009-11-16T11:51:00Z

Pictured at his recent Institution as Incumbent of Kilgariffe Union, Cork, Cloyne & Ross is The Rev'd Daniel Owen with Bishop Colton

St. Multose School Extension opened (Cork, Cloyne & Ross)

2009-11-16T11:11:00Z

St. Multose National School Kinsale, County Cork, founded in 1895, has recently opened an important extension. Principal Fiona Giles said “..we are proud to be able to continue our planting and harvesting. In many ways this reflects the life of the school – planting seeds of knowledge and providing valuable nutrients in the form of exploration and discovery before the, we hope, well-rounded pupils are sent off to become useful citizens of the wider community.”

In 2007, the school reached the enrolment number to employ a third teacher, so the Board of Management explored all the options available to provide accommodation for the third classroom. Building a permanent structure was the favoured option and the results speak for themselves. The older children had hitherto patiently been forced to put up with spending a year being taught in the confines of the school library. Indeed, the Learning Support and Resource teachers had to fight for unoccupied corners of the building to work in and had to resort to teaching in a wholly unsuitable press, surrounded by various stored items of equipment. They now have their own fine classroom.

In her address Principal Fiona thanked all the members of staff for their tireless work and particularly thanked John Stanley, chairman of the Board of Management who she said is 'like the glue that holds the whole thing together.'

In place of the traditional ribbon cutting at official openings the Board of Management decided that a tree planting ceremony would be more in keeping. Fortunately the weather stayed fine and Bishop Colton wielded the spade in a most professional manner.

Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'

2009-11-14T06:00:00Z

Saturday 14 November 2009

Singing the Psalms Launch
This time last year a new Church of Ireland publication to encourage more psalm singing in churches was launched. It contained simple musical psalm settings for all the psalms needed for the liturgical year. Now, a second publication with fresh and engaging simple chants for the psalms for the coming liturgical year beginning on Advent Sunday 2009 has been produced. This will be launched this morning by the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe in All Saints Church, Clooney.

The publications came about as a result of the feeling that the practice of singing psalms has been somewhat lost in parishes. In an attempt to recapture the richness and variety of emotion expressed within the psalms, the Liturgical Advisory Committee of the Church of Ireland asked musicians Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson to devise a way of setting the psalms to music that can be sung by anyone. Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson are both members of the Liturgical Advisory Committee and actively involved in the music of their parishes. Alison is a music teacher in Portadown, while Peter is Rector of Castlecaulfield.

Singing Psalms – Responsorial Psalms set to Simple Chant – Year C is published by the Columba Press at €17.99/£12.99.

The autumn meeting of the Church of Ireland Historical Society will be held today in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, (Saturday), beginning at 10.30 am, while this evening Anuna will give a concert in Cashel Cathedral as part of the Cashel Arts Fest.

Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the Citizenship Service in Christ Church Cathedral where the preacher will be Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ while in St Patrick’s Cathedral the Archbishop of Armagh will preach at a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 150th anniversary of the Adelaide Hospital School of Nursing. At 7pm in St Ann’s Church, Dublin, there will be a ‘Songs of Praise’ in aid of the Bishops’ Appeal and the Salvation Army. The music will be provided by the Steadfast Brass Band and the hymns will be introduced by Archdeacon Gordon Linney. In Christ Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Episcopalian church serving Harvard University, Dr Susan Hood, who is participating in a programme in Boston College, will address the students on peace building.

On Tuesday the series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, organized by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (Irish Guild of the Church), continues. The Revd Andrew Jones, from the Church in Wales, will speak on ‘The Welsh Language and the Church in Wales’ The lecture will be in English and will be followed by a short discussion at which contributions in Irish will be most welcome.

The Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association AGM will be held in Church of Ireland College of Education at 2pm. Mr Joe O'Connell, Diocesan Education Secretary of Limerick (RC) Diocese, will speak on ‘Resolution of Conflict Situations in School Management' All members of Boards of Management in Primary Schools under Protestant Management are invited to attend.

Tuesday is also St Doulagh's Day, which will be celebrated in St Doulagh's Church, Balgriffan, by a Ecumenical Service at which the preacher is the Revd David Oxley, Rector of Finglas, at 8pm. St Doulagh's Church was built about 1140, and the Christian history of the site can be traced back to the 7th century

On Wednesday evening the Archbishop of Dublin will preach in the Chapel of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute at a service to mark the completion of the refurbishment of the Institute buildings.

Launch of New 'Titanic Parish', Belfast

2009-11-13T10:58:00Z

Brand New Parish to Launch at the Titanic Quarter

On Sunday 15th November 2009 the Revd Chris Bennett will be introduced into the newly created Titanic Parish by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Rev Harold Miller. Because there is no church building, the short service will take place in The Pump House Cafe at Titanic Dock after a guided walk from the Odyssey Complex.

The parish has been created at the request of the Bishop who is keen that the church has a presence in the Quarter right from the start. It stretches from the Odyssey to the far end of Queen’s Island with the Lagan as a boundary on one side and the Sydenham Bypass on the other.

Chris' title will be 'Chaplain to the Titanic Quarter', which effectively means that, for now, he is Chaplain to a business district. Workplace chaplaincies are not without precedent and the diocese has taken inspiration from several sources including a church in the heart of London’s Canary Wharf which serves both residents and workers in the area.

It is anticipated that the Titanic Quarter will eventually be populated, not only with businesses and their employees but with residents, students, tourists and local visitors out to enjoy the cafes and restaurants.

At the moment, however, Chris' church is hard to define. He doesn't have a building, he doesn’'t have a team, he doesn't have parishioners, he doesn't have a programme of meetings and much of the Quarter exists only on architects' plans. That, however, doesn't daunt him, and he is ready to 'jump in with both feet'. 'What excites me the most,' says Chris, 'is that this is a "blank page", a fresh start for the church and I really want it to look like something brand new.'

The launch will start with a gathering at 3pm on Sunday at the Streat Café, Odyssey Complex. Following this, there will be a guided walk to the Pump House at Titanic Dock with a Service of Institution there at approximately 4pm.

ENDS

For further information, please contact

Annette McGrath
Acting Down & Dromore Diocesan Communications Officer
Church of Ireland House
61-67 Donegall Street
BELFAST
BT1 2QH

Tel: (028) 9032 2268
Fax:(028) 9023 1902
Mob: 07595 231958
Email: DCO

Death of Former Rector of Achonry, Rev Canon Fred Gillmor

2009-11-11T11:51:00Z

It is with great sadness that we report of the sudden Death of Rev. Canon Samuel Frederick Gillmor know to all as Canon Fred. He died on the evening of Monday 8th November in Sligo General Hospital, of a suspected heart attack following a traffic accident near Strandhill Co. Sligo earlier in the day.

Canon Fred was a former Rector of Achonry Union of parishes and will be missed by his many ex parishioners and friends. Canon Fred retired in 2003 to Strandhill.

We offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Olive and family.

Provisional funeral arrangements are Reception in St John's Cathedral Sligo at 7 .30 p.m Wednesday 10th November followed by Funeral Service at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 11th November in St John's Cathedral.

For further information please contact:

The Reverend Canon Aean Ferguson
Tuam, Killala & Achnry Diocesan Communications Officer

Tel: +353 (0)96 49865
Mob: +353 (0)87 8121020
E-Mail: Tuam, Killala & Achonry DCO