Irish Times Notes16 Feb 19

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Red Book of Ossory Concert

In the National Concert Hall on Wednesday evening at 8.30pm the ensemble Anakronos will present ‘The Red Book of Ossory’, described as a ‘thrilling new interplay between the music of the past and today’. The Red Book of Ossory is a 14th century cartulary associated with Richard Ledrede who became Bishop of Ossory in 1317. Ledrede is, perhaps, best remembered for initiating the famous witchcraft trial of Dame Alice Kyteler and for the burning at the stake of her servant, Petronella de Meath. However, he was also responsible for composing some sixty Latin songs for the vicars of St Canice’s cathedral to sing at the great festivals so that their mouths ‘be not defiled with theatrical, foul and secular songs’. These songs have survived in the Red Book of Ossory and have from time to time attracted the attention of scholars. Otherwise the manuscript has not, perhaps, had the attention it deserves, but the Revd Dr Adrian Empey is working on an edition which will make the text more generally available.

Anakronos features four of Ireland’s most innovative interpreters of medieval music, contemporary classical and jazz using voice, clarinet, saxophone, keyboard and percussion.

BBC Radio Ulster’s Morning Service will be broadcast from St Patrick’s Church, Donaghmore Upper, Co. Tyrone, tomorrow (Sunday) at 10.15am. The preacher will be Dr Peter Thompson, Rector of Donaghmore, and the programme will be available after the broadcast on the Radio Ulster website. In the afternoon Pipeworks will present a Coffee Concert with organists Raymond Russell and Simon Harden at 4pm in Monkstown parish church, Co. Dublin. As part of a programme of exchanges between deans and canons in Limerick and Killaloe, Canon Patrick Comerford will be in St Flannan’s cathedral, Killaloe, tomorrow (Sunday) and the Dean of Killaloe, the Very Revd Gary Paulsen, will visit the Rathkeale group of parishes. Last year, St Mary’s Cathedral celebrated its 850th anniversary and during the year a Community Awards Scheme was launched. This scheme was created to highlight the “unsung heroes” of Limerick. A special service will be held tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 7pm to present the winners of the Community Award – the recipients are Sr Delia O’Connor, Mr Paul Carey, Mr Philip Doran, Mr Tom Naughton, Ms Maura O’Neill, and the Bedford Row Project

On Tuesday evening in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, at 7.30pm, and on Wednesday evening in St Patrick’s church, Monaghan, at 8pm, the Bishop of Clogher will give talks on the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland. Events to mark the 150th anniversary of disestablishment begin this year.

On Friday the Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory will institute Canon Brian O’Rourke as incumbent of Tullow group of parishes. Canon O’Rourke moves from the Lismore/Waterford area of the diocese where he has been Diocesan Curate.

Twenty–five students will be in attendance at the Theological Institute over the course of the weekend of 22–24 February for the commencement of two further training courses. Nine men and eight women from five dioceses will be embarking on the one year Foundation Course programme, whilst eight will start the fifth cycle of Reader training, lasting two years. The weekend, entitled ‘Fit for the Purpose’, takes as its theme a biblical and personal exploration of various matters to do with vocation. The main facilitators are Dr Christina Baxter, former Principal of St John’s College Nottingham, and Canon Maurice Elliott, Director of CITI. Also in attendance from St John’s will be the Rev Dr John Tomlinson, Course Director, and Jacqui Brown, Course Administrator.