Irish Times Notes20 Aug 22

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Holiday Reading

As summer draws to a close and the business of September begins to beckon there is, perhaps, still an opportunity to catch up on some reading with an Anglican perspective.

Earlier this year there was a launch, delayed by the pandemic, of Perspectives on Prayer and Spirituality (Wipf & Stock), edited by two members of the staff of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Canon Maurice Elliott and the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey. Also from CITI has come the Revd Christopher West’s Braemor Studies book, Eucharist and Embodiment. An Invitation to Constructive Thinking (Church of Ireland Publishing).

There were books, too, from two sons of the Church of Ireland who have made their reputations  in England. Dublin–born David Ford, former Regius Professor of Theology in Cambridge, has produced The Gospel of John. A Theological Commentary, published by Baker Academic, while from Belfast born Alister McGrath, Andreas Professor of Science and Religion in Oxford, has come What’s the Point of Theology. Wisdom, Wellness and Wonder published by SPCK.

Two books from prominent Church of England clergy also command attention. Humbler Faith, Bigger God (Canterbury Press) by Samuel Wells, Vicar of the London parish of St Martin in the Fields, and The Humble Church. Becoming the Body of Christ  (Canterbury Press) by Martyn Percy whose controversial tenure as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, has recently come to an end.

On the historical front, the 5th edition of the ever popular A Short History of the Church of Ireland, from the pen of the Church of Ireland Historiographer, Dr Kenneth Milne, was published by Messenger Publications while from the Irish Manuscripts Commission has come the long awaited The Irish Religious Censuses of the 1760s. Catholics and Protestants in Eighteenth–Century Ireland. Architects of Ulster: W.J. Barre, 1830–1867. A vigorous mind (Ulster Architectural Heritage Society) by the former Church of Ireland Press Officer, Dr Paul Harron, chronicles the career of a man who designed many significant church buildings, while Sarah Cecelia Harrison. Artist, Social Campaigner and City Councillor (Dublin City Council), edited by Dr Margarita Cappock, examines the career of the early 20th century Church of Ireland activist.

Most, if not all of these, books are available on loan to those who are members of the Representative  Church Body Library (library@ireland.anglican.org) while for a more informed view of them, Search: A Church of Ireland Journal has already reviewed some of these titles and will review others in the forthcoming autumn issue (searchjournal@ireland.anglican.org).

In St Ann’s church, Dawson Street, Dublin on Thursday there will be a lunchtime recital at 1.20pm when Beth McNinch, Lance Coburn and Sharon Carty will perform works by Rebecca Clarke. A 10 euro entrance charge will be used to meet performers’ honoraria, organizational costs and to fund the restoration of the organ.

On Friday, at 1.10pm, Summer Music in Sandford continues in Sandford parish church, Ranelagh, where pianist, Maria Greenan, will play music by Bach, Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin.

Eco–Congregation Ireland’s Summer 2022 newsletter is now available, highlighting examples of environmental projects undertaken by churches across the island of Ireland.

This includes a report from the Carrigaline union of parishes in the Diocese of Cork on replacing the Oasis flower arranging product with eco–friendly alternatives such as Bio–foam, a clean–up in Galway parish’s churchyard (followed by breakfast!) and the Act for Nature Day, organised by A Rocha Northern Ireland, at Hugh’s Meadow Nature Reserve, in County Antrim.