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Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Inclusivity Service in St Patrick’s

St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, will host a special service celebrating inclusivity tomorrow (Sunday) with ecumenical choral evensong at 3.15pm. Special guests include the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups. Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Seán Ó hÓráin, and Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dr William Morton, have extended a joint invitation to people of all faiths and none to join them for this unique gathering.

The service will acknowledge the rich tapestry of cultures and creeds that since 1884 has contributed to the enhancement of Gaelic games, culture, and life on Ireland and beyond. It will feature contributions from a variety of figures from the GAA and Irish community and church life. John Horan, GAA President, said: ‘We are privileged that the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland will host us for this service of inclusivity. We need look no further than one of the most iconic names in the GAA – Sam Maguire – to recognise the diversity that has helped make the GAA what it is today’. Sam Maguire was a parishioner of St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Dunmanway. He rose to prominence in the GAA as chairperson of the London County Board following a successful playing career. The famous All Ireland football championship cup was presented to the GAA in his honour a year after his death in 1927. In 2017, the local parish and community, with the support of a grant from the GAA, restored the six original bells in the church tower while adding two new ones inscribed with Sam Maguire’s name and dates (1877–1927).

St Mary’s church, Ardess, near Kesh in Clogher Diocese will host a Flower Festival this weekend which concludes with a Closing Service on Monday at 7pm.

In St Canice’s cathedral, Kilkenny, tomorrow (Sunday) the combined choirs of St Mary’s cathedral Limerick, and St Canice’s cathedral will sing Choral Evensong at 5pm.

The final lunchtime organ recital in the current series will be given next Tuesday at 1pm in Monkstown parish church, Co. Dublin, by Fergal Caulfield.

Next Thursday is Ascension Day when Church of Ireland House, Dublin, and the RCB Library will be closed. In St Patrick’s church, Templepatrick, Co. Antrim, the Revd Jeremy Mould will be instituted to the incumbency of Templepatrick and Donegore. Mr Mould has been on the staff of the parish of Belvoir and Moneyreagh in the Diocese of Down since 2006.

Those readers who were enchanted by Rathcormick, Homan’s Potterton’s evocative memoir of a Church of Ireland childhood may be intrigued by his latest book. Knockfane: a Novel is described by its publishers, Merrion Press, as an enthralling drama exploring inheritance, heirship and family legacy, set against the backdrop of the Ireland of its time and the conventions, customs, mistrust and suspicions which governed both Protestants and Catholics, as they come to terms with each other’s world in a rapidly changing society. The book will be launched on Thursday evening by Harold Clarke, former Chairman of Easons.

The end of May bring the retirement from the staff in Church of Ireland House, Dublin, of Trevor Stacey. Mr Stacey joined the staff of the RCB straight from The King’s Hospital and remained there throughout his entire career. He is remembered by former colleagues as a determined defender of the rights of the staff while as member of the Staff Association, while as a senior manager, as Head of Property and Trusts, his work ethic, often beyond the bounds of what the Church had any right to expect, became the stuff of legend.

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