Irish Times Notes02 Jan 21

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

2020 in Books

As the New Year begins, largely where there the old one left off, with movement and assembly affected by renewed Covid–19 restrictions, there will, for many, be additional free time. And so, for those who did not get round to some serious reading in Advent, the post– Christmas period provides another opportunity to catch up, especially if there are Christmas book tokens to redeem.

Walter Brueggeman’s acclaimed Virus as a Summons of Faith. Biblical Reflections in a Time of Loss, Grief and Anxiety (Cascade Books) might be a topical beginning, as might God and the Pandemic (SPCK) and Broken Signposts: How Christianity makes sense of the World (SPCK) from the astonishingly prolific Tom Wright. Two books on the equally topical theme of ecology are, Dermot Lane’s Theology and Ecology in Dialogue (Messenger Publications) and Celtic Christianity and Climate Crisis (Sacristy Press) by Ray Simpson. Equalling challenging for many, is the mysterious world of IT which is explored by Professor John Lennox in 2084. Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (Zondervan).

From Church of Ireland Publishing, for the forthcoming liturgical year, is The Gospels in Iambic Verse (Revised Common Lectionary Year B) by Canon John  Bartlett. This novel approach to Bible study takes the Gospel readings for the major feasts and each Sunday of the Christian year and renders them in rhymed iambic verse with the author’s own quirky line drawings. This books complement Canon Bartlett’s earlier publications, Meet the Apostles. An Introduction in Iambic Verse to the Apostles of the New Testament and The Gospels in  Iambic Verse (Revised Common Lectionary Year A. All three titles are available from the Church of Ireland’s on–line store (https://store.ireland.anglican.org).

Another local publication brings a modern twist to one of the great works of famous hymn writer, Henry Francis Lyte, a pupil at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, in the early 1800s, who is best remembered as the author of Abide With Me. Dr William Holmes, a member of St Macartin’s cathedral parish, Enniskillen, used modern technology to interpret the text from poor quality photocopies of Lyte’s book, The Spirit of the Psalms, which has been out of print for over 150 years. The book was first published in electronic form on various Amazon websites around the world, and more recently has been listed on the same websites, including Amazon.co.uk, as a paperback.

Bishops & Buildings. A Pictorial Celebration of Armagh’s Architecture  is a beautifully illustrated, large format book which provides a clear and concise introduction to the many significant buildings in Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital. The two cathedrals, each dedicated to St Patrick, feature largely as too do to the Palace, Armagh Robinson Library, the Observatory and Planetarium. the Royal School and St Mark’s parish church among others. The book is a collaborative project by Armagh County Museum, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive and Archive and Armagh Robinson Library and is on sale from all of the institutions at €15.

Another local publication is a bi–centenary history of Shinrone parish, hailed as a contribution to the literary, social and spiritual history of south Offaly. St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Shinrone: 200 Years is available at Shinrone Post Office, online at www.offalyhistory.com/shop or in person from David Meredith on 086 311 0153 and Cyril Stanley on 087 288 9616.

For something lighter, the Revd Ted Wood’s fictional take on the Diocese of Dublin, where he served as Rector of Rathfarnham, Bishop, has been published by Beaten Track Publishing.