Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 22 December 2007Christmas Reading
For many Christmas is an opportunity to catch up on some reading and for those who are inclined to read about the Church of Ireland there has been an interesting cross-section of relevant publications in 2007.
The two big book of this year were both historical works which dealt with the Church of Ireland in early modern Ireland – a study of James Ussher by Alan Ford, Professor of theology in Nottingham University and a work on John Bramhall by the UCD historian, John McCafferty. The reconstruction of the Church of Ireland. Bishop Bramhall and the Laudian reforms, 1633-41 (Cambridge University Press) and James Ussher. Theology, history and politics in early modern Ireland and England (Oxford University Press are works of considerable scholarship – long in gestation, meticulously researched and carefully written.
On a lighter note there have been another two clerical reminiscences published this year. Changing Collars (Columba) by the Revd Mark Hayden, Rector of Gorey, tells the story of his journey from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Ireland, while The rector who wouldn’t pray for rain (Veritas), by the Revd Patrick Semple, is a development of his previous memoir, Believe it or not.
In the field of local history and genealogy there have been another two volumes from the Representative Church Body Library. A new and expanded edition of the register of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, has been edited by Raymond Refaussé, and includes details of baptisms, marriages and burials for the years 1677-1869. In association with Four Courts Press The vestry records of the united parishes of Finglas, St Margaret’s. Artane and the Ward, 1657-1758, has been edited by the Sherries based local historian Dr Maighréad Ní Mhurchadha.
Church of Ireland Publishing has issued three booklets this year. Two deal specifically with the challenges posed by the new multi-race Ireland - Guidelines for inter-faith events & dialogue, prepared by the Committee for Christian Unity and the Bishops, and Embracing difference. The Church of Ireland in a plural society, which was written by Canon Patrick Comerford for the Church in Society Committee. A third booklet, Working out the covenant. The journey so far, by the Revd Peter Thompson, details the emerging relationship with the Methodist Church.
And as always, the 2008 edition of the Church of Ireland Directory is already available.
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, for which tickets are not required, will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, while on Christmas Eve admission to the Carol Service, at which the Archbishop of Dublin will give the blessing, will be by ticket only. Archbishop Neill will preach in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at both the first Eucharist of Christmas at 11 pm on Christmas Eve and at the Sung Eucharist on Christmas Day. The bishops, by tradition. preach in their diocesan cathedrals on Christmas Day.
The Christmas morning service on RTE 1 will be a Service of Lessons and Carols with the Chapel Choir of Trinity College, Dublin. The preacher will be the Church of Ireland chaplain, the Revd Darren McCallig, and the service will begin at 10.05am.
On Sunday 30 December there will be an International Carol Service in St George and St Thomas’ Church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, at 3pm. There will be congregational carols, readings and special musical events from guests including the Discovery Gospel Choir, the Choir of the Indian Orthodox Church in Ireland and the Junior Choir of St Matthias’ Church, Ballybrack.