Irish Times Notes13 Jun 20

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Irish Language Controversy

Eagle eyed readers of last Saturday’s Irish Times will have seen a short report under the headline ‘CofI bishop challenges English counterpart over Irish epitaph’. The bishop in question is the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory who, in an open letter to the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, expressed his concern about a ruling by Stephen Eyre QC, Chancellor of the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Coventry.

The ruling was that an inscription in Irish on a gravestone in a Coventry churchyard must be translated to ensure it is not mistaken for a political statement. In a fuller report in the Guardian, Chancellor Eyre was quoted as saying that ‘Given the passions and feelings connected with the use of Irish Gaelic there is a sad risk that the phrase would be regarded as some form of slogan or that its inclusion without translation would of itself be seen as a political statement’. He went on, ‘That is not appropriate and it follows that the phrase “In ár gcroíthe go deo” must be accompanied by a translation which can be in a smaller font size’.

Bishop Burrows said the controversy raised ‘serious issues in terms of cultural respect between our islands which go to the very heart even of the delicate Irish peace process’.

The decision could ‘reignite the notion that one of the ancient languages of these islands, the original language of hymns like “Be thou my vision”, is to be regarded by the Anglican Church not as a vehicle of spirituality but of its very nature as an instrument of politics. And to that assertion we feel bound stridently to object’.

The judgment has been greeted with astonishment and a statement issued in London said ‘This decision does not reflect any national Church of England policy. Consistory court judgments may, with permission, be appealed to the provincial court of the archbishop, in this case the arches court of Canterbury. The Irish language is an important part of the heritage of the Church of England. It was, after all, Irish–speaking monks in Lindisfarne and beyond who played a central role in establishing the church in what is now England’.

Bishop Cocksworth said he was ‘deeply saddened whenever people’s identity is hurt or offended’ and that he would make sure the family is made aware of its ‘legal rights according to the procedures of the Consistory Court’. It is understood that the ruling will be appealed.

Bishop Burrows is patron of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglais, (the Irish Guild of Church), which was founded in 1914. Its specific aims were to promote all that tends to preserve within the Church of Ireland the spirit of the ancient Celtic Church and to provide a bond of union for all members of the Church of Ireland inspired with Irish ideals, to promote the use of the Irish language in the Church, to collect from Irish sources suitable hymns and other devotional literature, and to encourage the use of Irish art and music in the Church. The Cumann, the Cathaoirleach of which is An tOir, Trevor Sergeant, organizes Irish language services in Dublin in Christ Church and St Patrick’s cathedrals, and in Christ Church cathedral, Waterford, on a regular basis. It also arranges occasional services especially around St Patrick’s Day. The Cumann maintains a website (www.gaeleaslais.ie) and has a facebook presence here. Its Development Officer, Caroline Nolan, is based in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin.