Irish Times Notes15 Feb 20

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

New source for the Church in Dublin

The ninth volume in the RCB Library’s texts and calendars series has been published by Four Courts Press. The Churchwardens’ Accounts of the Parishes of St Bride, St Michael Le Pole and St Stephen. Dublin, 1663–1702 have been edited by WJR Wallace who for many years taught History and English Dublin’s High School.

This volume complements Ronnie Wallace’s earlier edition of the vestry minutes of the parishes of St Bride, St Michael Le Pole and St Stephen, which was published in 2011. Together they form a valuable source not alone for the study of Dublin parish life in the late 17th and 18th centuries but also for the ways in which the Church interacted with the life of the city of Dublin and beyond. The churchwardens were the principal officers of the vestry, the committee which ran the affairs of the parish, and so their accounts, which had to be presented annually, provide a mass of information in a regular and structured fashion. The details in the accounts complement and enhance the understanding of the many policy matters which were discussed at the meetings of the vestry. Expenditure on the care, repair and furnishing of the church help to give a sense of a building which is no longer extant, while fees paid to the parish servants – the beadle, sexton, organ blower, and cleaners – provide useful detail about the parish community. The civic responsibilities of the parish are also reflected in payments for such as poor relief, the care of abandoned children, the supply of coal and the maintenance of the stocks – important for maintaining public order. The accounts also complement the parish registers, the originals of which were destroyed in the fire in the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922, as the many entries relating to burials provide valuable information on social status.

The book may be obtained through bookshops or from the on–line store on the Church of Ireland website.

In Dublin today (Saturday) the series of Spring Concerts continues in St Philip’s church, Milltown, at 12 noon when Andrew Johnstone will give an organ recital of music by Bach.

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning a service with a choir and congregation from St Stephen’s church, in Dublin,  will be broadcast on RTE 1 television and RTE radio 1 extra at 11am. The service will be led by the rector, Canon David Gillespie. BBC Radio Ulster’s Morning Service will be broadcast from St Mark’s Church, Ballymacash, at 10.15am.  The service will be led by the rector, the Revd Lynne Gibson. In Downpatrick the new Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Revd David McClay, will be enthroned in Holy Trinity cathedral by the Dean of Down, the Very Revd Henry Hull. The service will begin at 3.30pm.

At 7pm in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, a special service will be held on  to present the winner of this year’s Community Award. In addition the Dean, the Very Revd Niall Sloane, will present cheques to a number of local charities and groups.

In a lecture at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Dublin, on Tuesday Bishop Rowan Williams will consider whether global politics at the moment is exhibiting a deep confusion about the nature of democracy and the moral case for it, and what Christian theology and practice has to say on the subject. The lecture will begin at 3.00pm with refreshments beforehand. Admission is by RSVP only.