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New CIP book ‘Journeying in Faith’ by Cecil Hyland launched at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Left to right: the Revd Ted Woods; Canon Cecil Hyland; Bishop Kenneth Kearon; Dean Dermot Dunne; Dr Kenneth Milne; and Dr Susan Hood.
Left to right: the Revd Ted Woods; Canon Cecil Hyland; Bishop Kenneth Kearon; Dean Dermot Dunne; Dr Kenneth Milne; and Dr Susan Hood.

A new book by Canon Cecil Hyland, Journeying in Faith – A Walk with Christ, published by Church of Ireland Publishing (CIP), was launched by the Rt Revd Kenneth Kearon, Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, in the historic surroundings of the Music Room of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, last night (Monday 11 December). A large turnout of people heard from a range of speakers who commended the new book as one which would be useful for engaging people seriously with the Christian faith.

Canon Cecil Hyland, who has served for over fifty years in the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland, felt compelled to write a book on ‘loving God with all our mind’ (drawing on Matthew 22:37). He hopes that this book will ‘encourage a continuation of the search for a faith that is alive and relevant in our day’.

Dr Kenneth Milne, Chairman of the Church of Ireland’s Literature Committee, acted as MC for the evening, and explained that the new book ‘fills a gap in publishing reflective material’ by CIP. The Dean of Christ Church, Dean Dermot Dunne, welcomed everyone to the cathedral and praised the author’s ‘deep spirituality, commitment to prayer and ability to reach out to all in compassion’. Canon Hyland expressed his thanks to everyone who had supported and encouraged him during his life, especially his wife, Dorothy, saying ‘all the commas [in the book] are hers’. He also thanked, among others, Dr Margaret Daly–Denton, the editor of the book, for all her guidance, Dr Susan Hood who had managed the process of producing the book with great calm, and Chris Conville who had designed the book with flair and imagination. He said that he felt that Christianity is ‘about taking a journey – an adventure – with Christ. It will have times of joy and difficulty but there in the midst of it will be the presence of God and the presence of the community’. Canon Hyland also called for post–confirmation development of faith for Church of Ireland members, and hoped that the book could prove useful in that regard.

Bishop Kenneth Kearon – who had been a student at Trinity College, Dublin, when Cecil had been Dean of Residence (Chaplain) there – formally launched the book. He drew special attention to the motif of the scallop shell, used throughout the book, which is a symbol of blessing for a journey and often used at baptism. He said that the shell is ‘both fragile and strong, protecting the organism inside when it is being tossed about in the seas’ and that this is a strong metaphor for the journey of life and faith. He said that ‘the journey is valuable in itself as we learn from each other and build up a pattern for life on the way’. Bishop Kearon praised the book as ‘a product of a lifetime of pastoral ministry’ which would be useful for those who seek to ‘seriously engage with faith’. While the book addresses ‘big theological questions,’ he said, ‘it does so creatively, not destructively … giving confidence to our questioning not uncertainty’.

Finally, Canon Hyland’s old friend the Revd Ted Woods – who contributed a foreword to the book – concluded proceedings by recommending reading and reflecting on the new book. He said that we ‘should not be afraid to ask questions, especially in times when people find faith in God difficult’. He said that Cecil ‘brings light to dark corners’ and stressed the importance of ‘interpreting and living out our faith as an active part of a compassionate society’.

The book is available from https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store. It is priced €12.50/£10.

  • Bishop Kenneth Kearon; Mrs Dorothy Hyland; Canon Cecil Hyland.
  • Mrs Dorothy Hyland; Canon Cecil Hyland; Dr Margaret Daly-Denton (editor).
  • Mrs Dorothy Hyland and Canon Cecil Hyland.
  • The Revd Ted Woods; Canon Cecil Hyland; Bishop Kenneth Kearon.
  • Canon Hyland signs copies of the book.
  • The Revd Ted Woods; Canon Cecil Hyland; Bishop Kenneth Kearon.
  • Canon Hyland’s speech at the launch.

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