Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Mostly about Music
In a new video as part of the Inspiring Angles series, Tom Little, Director of Music at Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral, talks about its musical outreach programme with four local schools.
Weekly singing workshops reach 20 to 30 pupils in each school and help the Cathedral to serve the community by going outside its walls, sharing its resources, and bringing children and adults into the landmark space. Mission is always at the heart of Christ Church’s work in a Cathedral that is here for everyone – not a museum or a monument – and is alive and thriving because of people.
Tom also shares some research that tells about the tangible benefits for children from singing, especially how it creates relationships with other people and working as part of a team effort, and helps with concentration. The Cathedral would welcome support to help this project reach more schools and more children – please contact tom.little@christchurch.ie if you can help.
The video is available to download and share from this link on the Church of Ireland’s Vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/1006634061
2024 marks the centenary of the death of Dublin born composer, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. With a strong association with St Patrick’s cathedral, Stanford was one of the most significant composers of his day and left a large body of work in many genres, including orchestra music and opera. It is however, for his organ and choral music he is principally remembered today. This autumn, St Patrick’s will be celebrating the man and his music with a series of five recitals, each featuring one of his organ sonatas and other works. The series continues on Sunday at 7pm with a recital by Stuart Nicholson, Director of Music at St Partick’s. Admission is free.
This evening (Friday) is Culture Night when there will be events in many cathedrals and churches – details on local websites.
On Tuesday there will be a lunchtime recital in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, at 1.15pm, by soprano, Mary Culloty O’Sullivan.
The Church’s Ministry of Healing has announced this year’s Advent Retreat, at the request of the Commission on Ministry. The Pilgrim’s Path in the World: Journeying with God in Advent will run from the evening of Friday 15 November to lunchtime on Sunday 17 November in Mount St Anne’s retreat centre, Co. Laois. The retreat will be led by Canon Alistair Graham, with CMH:I facilitating creative responses to Alistair’s sessions through a series of art stations.
The Commission on Ministry has been running this annual retreat for years and it is always a richly inspiring and gently restorative weekend. If you are anxious, lonely, overwhelmed, tired, or just seeking time away from your everyday routine to listen to God’s voice and to rest in His presence, then the retreat is for you. Places are limited and are on a first come, first served basis – details at at hello@ministryofhealing.ie
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times