D150 Events15 Aug 19

Heritage Week talks & walks to mark 150th anniversary of Disestablishment

As part of the Church of Ireland’s programme of events to mark the 150th anniversary of its Disestablishment, a lunchtime lecture series organised by the RCB Library will run at the Irish Architectural Archive (IAA), 45 Merrion Square, Dublin, during Heritage Week (next week).  Each lecture will start at 1.15pm. The lectures are aimed at a general audience and likely to be light, topical and entertaining. They are free and all are most welcome to attend.

On Tuesday, 20th August, Professor Alan Ford, Professor Emeritus of Theology at the University of Nottingham, will speak on ‘What kind of a Church is the Church of Ireland?‘  Professor Ford holds a PhD on the Irish Reformation and was an editor of The Church of Ireland and its Past: History, Interpretation and Identity, published by Four Courts Press in 2017.

On Wednesday, 21st August, Dr Michael O’Neill FSA will speak on ‘Architecture and Ecclesiology: The evidence from the Church of Ireland drawing collections.’ Dr O’Neill is an architectural historian and the curator of A Visual Window to an Ecclesiastical World – an exhibition of the Church of Ireland’s historical architectural drawings – which is continuing at the IAA until 30th August.

On Thursday, 22nd August, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows will speak on ‘Liturgical space and the re–ordering of Church of Ireland churches‘.  Bishop Burrows has served as Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory since 2006 and was previously Dean of Cork, Rector of Bandon, and the Church of Ireland Chaplain of Trinity College Dublin.

On Friday, 23rd August, Dr Niamh NicGhabhann, from the University of Limerick, will speak on ‘Church of Ireland restorations and representations in 19th–century Ireland‘.  Dr NicGhabhann’s work combines research and teaching with curating, arts management and creative collaborations.  She is currently researching the history of public space in Ireland.

Dr O’Neill will also conduct walking tours, discussing Disestablishment and looking at the Cathedrals of Christ Church and St Patrick’s and adjacent parish churches and how they reflect this event.  These will take place from 3pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday, 20th August, and Thursday, 22nd August, starting from the labyrinth in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.  The tours will be free of charge but places are limited and booking is required. To make a booking, please contact Caoimhe Leppard at caoimhe.leppard@rcbcoi.org or on 00 353 (0)1 4125 608.

The RCB Library’s exhibition of architectural drawings – A Visual Window to an Ecclesiastical World – which also has free admission is now entering its last few weeks, so for those who have not yet had a chance to view its colourful content, there is an opportunity up to Friday, 30th August – including each day of the Heritage Week programme in the IAA. More details can be found at www.iarc.ie/exhibitions