Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Support for Ukranians
The Church of Ireland has received £85,000 to run a grants scheme on behalf of the Benefact Trust to support people from Ukraine arriving on the island of Ireland. This grant scheme will assist dioceses and parishes who are supporting Ukrainians in integrating into our society. The grants will be provided through the Representative Church Body.
The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, said: “On behalf of the Church of Ireland, I would wish to pass on our heartfelt thanks to Benefact Trust for the generous financial support they have provided to help Ukrainian refugees who have arrived here in Ireland. Our partnership with Benefact Trust is also a recognition that, with parishes which together cover the whole of the island, the Church of Ireland is well placed to identify local needs.”
The Trust is one of the largest grant–making charities in the UK and Ireland with the charitable objectives of promoting the Christian faith and other charitable causes; it has been operating since 1972 and its funds are largely derived from ownership of the Benefact Group – a specialist financial services organisation. The Trust has, to date, provided £1 million to help with the response to the humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe and with resettlement in the UK and Ireland. The latest round of funding will also fund a grants scheme from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference for similar projects and help the Irish Red Cross replicate its warehouse model with support services across several location, based on the project which they have been developing at a site in Dublin since April.
Lesley King–Lewis, Director of the Benefact Trust, remarked: “We’re overwhelmed by the level of support churches and charities are providing for Ukrainian evacuees, who are arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back, scared for their futures. We’re proud to partner with these organisations to make a real difference to the lives of children, individuals and families who have experienced such devastation.
Today (Saturday), from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Armagh Robinson Library will be the venue for an in–person workshop, entitled ‘Exploring Christianity through Denominations’. It will consider a range of topics including the history of the denominations found in Ireland, their doctrinal positions, worship and liturgy, leadership and governance, and places of worship. The day will include a guided tour of St Patrick’s cathedral, which is situated beside the Library. The cost for this in–person event will be £12 (which does not include lunch). Pre–booking is essential. Tickets for one or both of the events can be obtained online.
The Service of Enthronement for the Bishop of Clogher, Dr Ian Ellis, will take place tomorrow (Sunday), at 7.00pm in St Macartin’s cathedral, Enniskillen. In Derry, St Columb’s Cathedral will host a diocesan and civic Service of Reflection and Thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday at 7.30pm. The service will be led by the Dean of Derry, the Very Rev Raymond Stewart. Leaders from the main local Churches will take part and the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, will preach the sermon.
The Dean of Limerick, the Very Revd Niall J. Sloane, has announced the 2022 Cathedral Community Awards Scheme. The Awards Scheme, which was established in 2018, hopes to highlight the ‘unsung heroes’ of Limerick and will awarded in February 2023. Nomination forms are available from the Cathedral Office until the closing date of 30 November 2022.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times