C of I response on abortion; Archive – The Church of Ireland Commemoration of St Patrick in 1932; Guinnesses for God; Memorial Service for cathedral organist; Media review
C of I response on abortion
In the light of proposed legislation to regulate abortion in private clinics in Northern Ireland, the Revd Adrian Dorrian, Chair of the Church’s Board for Social Theology, stated:
“The Church of Ireland Board for Social Theology in Action continues to affirm the sanctity of all human life, including the life of the unborn child. Termination of pregnancy is never a desirable outcome, although in some extreme medical cases it may be necessary. This is a hugely significant moral issue and consequently legal grey areas are undesirable. It remains imperative, therefore, that where termination of a pregnancy is carried out, it is done so to the highest possible standards of clinical professionalism and with appropriate oversight. Where there are questions about the efficacy of such oversight, such as in a private healthcare setting, the Board welcomes attempts by government to ensure that standards will not be compromised.”
See also:
March Archive
The Church of Ireland Commemoration of St Patrick in 1932
The RCB Library’s March archive comprises a selection of the literature produced for a programme of commemorations organised by the Church of Ireland to mark the 1500th anniversary of the coming of St Patrick to Ireland, in 1932.
In the autumn of 1930, it became known that the Vatican had sanctioned the next Eucharistic Congress to be held in Dublin in June 1932 – timed to celebrate 1500 years since St Patrick’s arrival in Ireland. In contrast to the positive spirit of the most recent Congress held in Dublin in 2012 some 80 years later (which included a day devoted to Christian unity and had ecumenical participation with a Liturgy of Word and Water at which the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin was invited to give the address back in the 1930s, relations between the main Churches were very different.
A year-long programme of 1500th-anniversary events, which culminated in a conference held at Dublin’s Mansion House in October 1932 was the response of the Church of Ireland archbishops to galvanize the members of their own minority Church to claim ownership of Patrick, and the literature now digitized and available online shows the elaborate plans they set in train.
The pitch was clearly about boosting the confidence of the Church at large, making connections north and south, and embedding in the hearts and minds of the people that they belonged to Ireland, as the handbook of the year’s events, the conference programme and other memorabilia demonstrate.
It is hoped that the online digital presentation will serve as a tool for understanding the identity issues facing the Church of Ireland as a minority in the Free State during the 1930s, but also as a reminder of how far the Churches have come in their journey of reconciliation in the decades since.
In addition to the digital images, all of the original materials may be viewed in the RCB Library, Dublin, and online here:
www.ireland.anglican.org/library/archive
Guinnesses for God
Dr Os Guinness and Michele Guinness are the subjects of ‘Guinnesses for God’, which will air at 22.30 on 3 March on RTÉ One.
Os Guinness is a world–renowned speaker, apologist and best–selling author. Michele was brought up in a practising Jewish family and is married to a Church of England minister, Peter, who is a great, great grandson of Arthur Guinness of brewing fame.
If you are unable to view the programme live it will be available online on the RTÉ Player for 21 days following the broadcast.
Memorial Service for cathedral organist
Stuart Gray was Organist and Choirmaster at St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick from 1979 to 2004, when he and his wife Moira (also a musician) retired to Stuart’s native Yorkshire.
Sadly Stuart died very suddenly at home on 5 December 2012. In view of the great legacy of Stuart’s musical ministry in the cathedral for 25 years, and his years of teaching music and religious education at Villiers School, Limerick Cathedral liaised with Moira to arrange a service to celebrate Stuart’s great contribution, including the founding of the Companions of St Mary’s Cathedral Music, which continues to foster education and music in a new generation of young singers.
The Choir was augmented by many former choristers. The music included Stuart’s own composition of the Canticle Nunc Dimittis in F; Moira’s beautiful responsorial version of Psalm 23; the anthem Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd; the Largo from Vivaldi’s Concerto in C Major (RV 443) performed by Maria O’Brien on the treble recorder; and Schubert’s Impromptu in A flat (D935) played on the piano by Cliodna Shanahan; and the tune to the first hymn (For the fruits of his creation) was East Acklam, after the village where Moira and Stuart lived.
The organ voluntaries, played by Peter Barley were both by JS Bach: Schmucke dich, O liebe Seele (BWV 654) and Prelude in E Flat (BWV 552). The Precentor of the Cathedral, the Rev’d Canon Stephen Neill, who had been curate when Stuart was organist, gave an address acknowledging Stuart’s talents and gifts that he shared in both music and education.
Before the service began, the team of bell ringers paid their tribute to Stuart by a rarely heard half muffled peel, which was a treat to hear. Music makers, singers, musicians from all over Limerick came to share in the celebration and to support Moira, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mrs Noreen Ellerker, on behalf of the cathedral congregation, at the end of the service. Mr Barley and all the choir were congratulated for the excellence of the music.
Media review
Auxiliary bishop Gerry Clifford to retire
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bishop-steps-down-due-to-ill-health-29098757.html
Fianna Fail leader slams Sinn Fein and DUP failings
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/fianna-fail-leader-slams-sinn-fein-and-dup-failings-29099963.html