Irish Times Notes30 Jan 21

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

New Clergy

One of the highlights of church life is the arrival of new clergy. The introduction of a curate, the institution of a rector or the installation of a member of a cathedral chapter are all causes for celebration both locally and in the wider church. These events renew our bonds of affection bringing together not just a specific worshipping community but also family and friends from other places. In these strange times such gatherings are not possible and now must take place behind closed doors with few present although live streaming and recording do help to spread the word.

On the Feast of the Epiphany, during an online Service broadcast using webcam, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross instituted the Revd Meurig Williams to the incumbency of Mallow union of parishes. The Bishop was accompanied only by his Archdeacon, the Ven Adrian Wilkinson, and the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Nigel Dunne. Mr Williams, a native of Bangor, North Wales,  was ordained in 1992 for the curacy of Holyhead and served in the Church of Wales until 2011 when he became Commissary to the Bishop in Europe before his appointment as Archdeacon of France in 2016. He  is currently involved in discussions between the Church of England and the French Protestant churches.

On the same evening Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, welcomed the Revd Tom Layden SJ who was installed as an Ecumenical Canon by the Dean, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne. The service was broadcast online with no congregation in the cathedral. Fr Tom Layden is a former Provincial of the Jesuit Order in Ireland and is involved in ecumenism and church unity.

The Revd Arthur Barrett was instituted as Rector of Arklow, Inch & Kilbride in St Saviour’s Church, Arklow, by the Archbishop of Dublin on 15 January. The service was livestreamed  and Mr Barrett was joined in the church by his wife and their family. The Revd Kevin Conroy, who has been serving the parish, and his wife, were also present along with the Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Ven Neal O’Raw. The preacher was the Very Revd Arfon Williams, Dean of Elphin and Ardagh, who delivered his sermon remotely. Mr Barrett has been Dean of Raphoe since 2014.

The Rev Christopher St John, formerly curate in St Mark’s, Dundela, in the Diocese of Down & Dromore, was instituted as Rector of Carrickfergus, by his predecessor, the Rt Rev George Davison, Bishop of Connor, on 21 January. The service was conducted under strict Covid–19 guidelines, and was live streamed on the parish Facebook page. Dr St John, a native of Derry, moved at a young age to Newtownabbey where he was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Mossley. He worked for several years in adult education and child protection training, before embarking on theological training in CITI seven years ago.

Following the success of the Christmas collaboration, when church choirs in Dublin & Glendalough and beyond recorded a carol service, a similar project is planned with John Stainer’s well–known The Crucifixion.  Tom Maxwell (St Brigid’s, Stillorgan) and Kevin O’Sullivan (Kilternan parish and Church Music Dublin) will lead and the Revd Jack Kinkead, chair of Church Music Dublin will be involved. As before, singers will record on their phones and send the recordings to Tom at dgchristmascollaboration@gmail.com by Saturday 6 February.  An initial Zoom meeting to discuss the project will take place on Monday 8 February, with a first rehearsal taking place on Monday 15 February.