Diocesan News
News from around the Church of Ireland
Happy Christmas! And welcome to our weekly round–up of news from around the Church of Ireland’s dioceses and parishes. Please click on the links in each report to read the full story – and also keep an eye out for longer, more occasional, features on major appointments and other significant initiatives.
This week’s selection of stories comes from:
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
Christmas Carols take to the road in Cork
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir has recorded a selection of Christmas Carols which are to be played around Cork City in the run up to Christmas Day itself. The Cathedral is aware that many people will be missing out on their usual Christmas services and carol singing because of the ongoing restrictions, so for the second year running the singing will be brought to them.
Festive tractor parade at Clabby Church
The farming community around Clabby got into the festive mood recently when the annual Christmas tractor run was held to raise funds for St Margaret’s Parish Church. The event would not be complete without the tractor drivers dressed in Santa hats or in some cases a complete Santa outfit.
New Dean of Waterford appointed
The Reverend Bruce Hayes, currently Rector of Dalkey parish in the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, has been appointed Dean of Waterford and Rector of Waterford Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.
Kind weather for clergy charity sit–out
The Rector of Magheracross Parish, Ballinamallard, Archdeacon Brian Harper, resumed his 12–hour sit–out for charity on 15th December after being unable to undertake the fundraising venture last year due to Covid–19 restrictions. Organised jointly with the Revd John Beacom, Minister of Ballinamallard Methodist Church, the two clergy were well wrapped up in their clerical cloaks but were grateful for a relatively mild, dry day.
Christmas Miscellany from Co. Clare
An ecumenical miscellany of carols, songs, readings and prayers, has been recorded across the churches of the Catholic Diocese of Killaloe and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, and coming from St Columba’s Church in Ennis. We hope you will be inspired by the knowledge that this is a collaboration between different churches and people of two different dioceses, Catholic and Anglican.
Church House Belfast Carol Service
Church House staff from Connor and the Diocese of Down and Dromore came together as they traditionally do for a (socially distanced) Carol Service on 17th December, held in the Chapel of Unity at Belfast Cathedral.
New Community Choir in Knocknagoney!
Jude Frame is known to many as a talented musician and worship leader but her day job (as well as being a Mum) is teaching music in Ballyholme Primary School where she has, not one but four choirs! And now Jude has added another, this time a Community Choir that rehearses every Wednesday night in the spacious Knocknagoney Church.
Dean of Cloyne participates in Ecumenical Blessing of SHARE Crib
On Wednesday, 15th December, representing the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, the Dean of Cloyne, the Very Reverend Susan Green, joined Bishop Fintan Gavin on Patrick Street in Cork for the annual ecumenical blessing of the SHARE Crib. SHARE, which stands for Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly, was founded 51 years ago by students of the Presentation Brothers School in Cork but has now expanded to involve 22 schools in the metropolitan Cork area.
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