RCB Library Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
St Fin Barre’s 150
On Monday 30 November the 150th anniversary of the consecration, on St Andrew’s Day 1870, of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, will be marked.
The original plan had been to host a great gathering and liturgical celebration the afternoon before, on Sunday 29 November, but sadly, like so many other great occasions during these times, this is no longer possible. So to celebrate in another way, the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton, and his wife, Susan, have commissioned the renowned Irish artist, illustrator and cartoonist, Annie West, to create that sense of celebration of St Fin Barre’s 150.
Had a celebration been possible on 29 November, there would have been, as on St Patrick’s Day and other occasions in the year, a procession following the liturgy across the road to the Palace where the festivities would have continued. Annie West has, however, created a sense of that occasion. A joyous crowd, buoyed by the liturgical celebrations, crosses the road and heads up the driveway. The flags of St Patrick and of the Anglican Communion are flying, signalling our Christian heritage and our contemporary global belonging. The cathedral is centre stage and the crowd includes the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Nigel Dunne, some choristers, the Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and, of course, the bishop. As a sign of our continuing fellowship in the Communion of Saints and continuity with our Christian inheritance in this place there are, among others, St Fin Barre, Bishop John Gregg (bishop of the time), his daughter Miss Fanny Gregg (who founded St Luke’s Home), the contractor and his colleagues, and the architect of the cathedral, William Burges.
A number of people, on hearing about this work indicated that they would like to have a print of the original. So, in collaboration with the artist, this is now possible. The prints will be strictly limited to the number ordered and paid for (€60 each, not including postage if applicable) by 27 November 2020. After that date they will no longer be available to order or purchase.
To order a copy or copies of the St Fin Barre’s 150th Annie West limited edition print, please do so before Friday 27th November 2020 using the online form at www.formdesk.com/ccr/Print_SFB150
All proceeds will go to the cathedral which, like so many other places ordinarily co–funded by tourism and events, has seen its finances severely hit in the course of this coronavirus pandemic.
Last Saturday, on the invitation of Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross, Dr Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, made his first visit as Bishop of Cork & Ross to St Fin Barre’s cathedral. Welcoming Bishop Gavin to the cathedral, the Very Revd Nigel Dunne, Dean of Cork, said he was delighted that this visit could at last take place. It had been delayed first by Dr Colton’s hospitalisation and then by the pandemic. The Dean described the occasion – the dedication of a new votive candle stand and prayers of remembrance for those who have died of Covid–19 – as sombre, but as, nonetheless, appropriate, given its focus on shared liturgy and common prayer.
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is hoping to stage an outdoor live Nativity in the cathedral’s precincts on 18 & 19 December. To help make this happen, they are putting a call out for volunteers. If you would like to be part of this new initiative please contact the Dean’s Vicar, the Revd Abigail Sines, at abigail@christchurch.ie
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times