Irish Times Notes14 Jan 17

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Summoned by Bells

A new series of lunchtime lectures on the theme of campanology is underway in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin. Last week the series began with an introduction to towers and belfries by the architectural historian, Dr Michael O’Neill, and it continues next Monday at 1.10pm when Dr Stuart Kinsella, the cathedral’s research advisor, will give a brief history of the tower of Christ Church. On the two following Mondays the current ringing master in Christ Church, Nigel Pelow, will give a social history of the Christ Church belfry and Garry McGuire, who was ringing master 2006–08, will explain the craft of campanology.

These lectures have been organized by Stuart Kinsella in memory of Leslie Taylor who had been ringing master in Christ Church for over four decades. Admission  is free and all are welcome with the following caveats. The lectures take place in the belfry and so numbers are limited. Also, access to the belfry is via a spiral staircase of over 80 steps and so not for the faint hearted.

New recruits to the bell ringing fraternity are welcome. Contact details and further information may be had from the website of the Irish Association of Change Ringers at www.bellringingireland.org

Dr Kinsella has also curated a series of lunchtime lectures in the National Concert Hall which begin on Tuesday 17 January. ‘Choral Music in Ireland: History & Evolution’ is a collaboration between Chamber Choir Ireland and the National Concert Hall’s Education, Community and Outreach Programme. Among the speakers will be Dr Frank Lawrence (UCD) on medieval sacred music, Professor Raymond Gillespie (Maynooth) on ‘Singing and Society, 1540–1700’ and Professor Harry White (UCD) who will trace the cultural changes in Irish choral music from the imperial colony of the 19th century to the independent state of the 20th century. Admission is free but tickets must be obtained from the National Concert Hall.

The Living Worship 2017 course begins today (Saturday) and is a post–Christmas opportunity to meet colleagues in an enjoyable learning environment. Each year, Living Worship explores aspects of parish church worship, with musicians particularly in mind. The sessions are at 10 am in the Mageough Hall, Cowper Road, Rathmines.

This morning (Saturday) the Revd Richard Clutterbuck, Principal of Edgehill Theological College, Belfast, will discuss Why Liturgy?. On 4 February the Very Revd Tom Gordon, Dean of Leighlin, will discuss Why Christians worship and will offer guidance about the use of music at the Eucharist. The final session, on 11 March, will be in Monkstown parish church with Dr John Rowntree, an organ advisor and currently Choir Director and Organist at Douai Abbey and Director of Music at St Mary’s Parish Church, Douai Abbey, in Berkshire. His topic will be Singing in Community – and How! There is a fee of €10 per session, including refreshments and more information may be had at www.churchmusicdublin.org/living-worship

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins next Wednesday and the Chairman of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, the Rt Revd John McDowell, has commended the resources provide by CTBI. This year’s theme, originating in Germany, is entitled ‘Crossing the Barriers’ and material can be downloaded, free of charge from https://ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2017

Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise will hold its Annual Interdenominational Service in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, next Friday at 8pm. The Revd Tony Murphy from Cork will preach and two choirs will be sing as Gaeilge – Gaelscoil na Cille from Ashbourne, Co. Meath, and a cohort of the Christ Church Cathedral choir.