Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Holiday Reading
As the weekend supplements have already begun to advise us, it is, at least for some, the holiday season and so we should be organizing our holiday reading. For many, of course, this will be no more than a quick trawl through the fiction best sellers list but for those for whom summer represents an opportunity to catch up on serious reading, there are some attractive alternatives with a Church of Ireland dimension.
Perspectives on Prayer and Spirituality, published by Wipf & Stock in the USA, has been edited by two members of staff of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute – the Director, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, and Lecturer in Missiology, the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey. As well as contributions by both editors, there are chapters by other CITI staff members, Dr Bridget Nichols and the Revd Dr William Olhausen, and from others who have, in recent years, been associated with the Institute – Bishop Ken Good, Canon Christina Baxter and Adrian Chatfield. Recent students, all now in the ordained ministry, also make contributions – Rob Clements, Suzanne Cousins, Rebecca Guildea and Ian Mills.
Also from CITI comes the twelfth volume in the Braemor Studies series which showcases the best dissertation by a final year student. The latest in the series is St Patrick’s Pilgrimage. Journey to Place, Journey to God by the Revd Karen Salmon, who is now a curate in Willowfield parish in Belfast, which has been published by Church of Ireland Publishing. It, and the earlier volumes, are available from the Church of Ireland’s on–line store at www.ireland.anglican.org/store
A former Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College, the predecessor of CITI, Canon John Bartlett, has recently completed a project to render the Gospel readings for the major feasts and each Sunday of the Christian year in rhyming iambic verse, illustrated with his own line drawings. The Gospels in Iambic Verse (Revised Common Lectionary Year C) has been preceded by volumes for years A and B and an introductory volume, Meet the Apostles. An Introduction in Iambic Verse to the Apostles of the New Testament. All four are available from the on–line store.
Canon Bartlett is a long–time member of the editorial committee of the Church of Ireland journal, Search. The summer issue, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley, is largely devoted to the proceedings of the international colloquium hosted virtually by Search last April which addressed the topic ‘Who is My Neighbour? Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity’. The journal carries the contributions of the major speakers – Dr Peniel J.R. Rajkumar from the World Council of Churches. Professor David Ford, sometime Regius Professor of Theology in Cambridge, and Brother Jean–Marie from the Taizé Community – and the responses to their papers. Copies may be obtained from the Honorary Treasurer, Michael Denton, at subscriptions@searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
For those whose maybe contemplating a day out, Bishops & Buildings. A Pictorial Celebration of Armagh’s Architecture is an excellent introduction not only to the city’s fine buildings but also to the rich heritage of its museums, libraries and archives. The book is available from the Armagh Robinson Library at admin@armaghrobinsonlibrary.co.uk
Most, if not all, of these books are available from the RCB Library which although still closed to readers, because of Covid restrictions, is operating a click and collect service for borrowers – see www.library.ireland.anglican.org
On Friday the West Cork History Festival, of which the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross, Dr Paul Colton, is one of the patrons) begins and continues until Sunday 8 August.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times