New book on Famous Clergy; Armagh recital; Armagh schools in shared campus bid; Plan urges shared education scheme; Prayer event in St Anne’s tonight; Episcopal ordination preacher; Teacher training college vows to protect its Catholic ethos
New book on Famous Clergy
A new book by Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long on seven famous clergy has just been published.
‘Famous Clergy’ profiles the lives of Jeremy Talyor, George Walker, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Percy, Richard Mant, William Alexander and William Shaw Kerr. These giants of the faith had a considerable influence on the Church, particularly in Ireland, providing much needed leadership and leaving an enduring legacy.
The book will be formally launched by the Rt. Revd. Dr. Gordon McMullan, former Bishop of Down and Dromore, on 24th May 2013 in Knockbreda Parish Hall at 7.30pm.
At 99 years old, Dr. Long is a prolific author. He has lived through the Wall Street Crash, the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Cold War and the modern Irish Troubles. After a successful ministry in the Church of Ireland, the retired cleric continues his ministry by writing articles, pamphlets and books, which are of interest to people and which seek to educate, encourage and inspire.
The former Rector of Dromara (Diocese of Dromore) explains why he wrote his new book, “Each of clergy profiled in the book accepted the duties, responsibilities and opportunities of leadership and selflessly spent himself in the pursuit of causes in which he believed and by his example encouraged and persuaded his people to follow his lead.”
Dr Long goes on, “They were intelligent men able to discern that what is true is true and that what is false is false and people recognised that they were both perceptive and courageous. ‘Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force, that thought rules the world.’ (Emerson) These seven understood that and applied this philosophy and for that reason have earned recognition, appreciation and gratitude.”
Dr Long is also the Senior Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. He is published in various Orange newspapers throughout the world, including USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The book is available at the Good Book Shop beside St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, and online at Amazon.com and slievecroobpress.wordpress.com, priced at £9.99.
Armagh recital
The Revd. Adrian McLaughlin will give this month’s organ recital on Sunday 26 May 2013 at 4.15pm in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh.
Theo Saunders writes – Adrian McLaughlin started playing and composing for the piano from the age of 5 and has been mainly self-taught. He explains, “I fell in love with the pipe organ at the age of 16, after accidentally listening to a tape of Bach organ music, and from then on I took up all things ‘organic’! I gained experience both in playing the organ and with its inner workings whilst at Methodist College, Belfast, and took several posts helping out churches as organist”.
Adrian has had a varied career path, involving pyrotechnics, chemistry, teaching, organ building and theological studies. He was appointed Curate of Bangor Abbey over five years ago, and is presently on sabbatical to build a house in Islandmagee. Currently he is Chairman of the Pipe Organ Preservation Trust, which has awarded over £150,000 to churches and schools throughout the UK to enable them to afford a pipe organ.
Adrian’s great interest in the French Romantic Period of organ building and composition will be reflected in his programme for the recital, which will be made up entirely of his own compositions. He says, “Although being worked upon and edited, many of these pieces have been born out of a passion for this period of French music”.
As with all the organ recitals, admission is free, with a retiring collection requested for the further endowment of the Archbishop of Armagh’s Choir Fund. As there are no expenses, the donations of previous audiences and the use of Gift Aid have raised approximately £1,700 to date.
Armagh schools in shared campus bid
Archbishop Alan Harper is deeply involved in an initiative in which a group of controlled, independent and catholic schools in Armagh hope to be one of 10 shared education campuses as proposed by the first and deputy first ministers.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22645800
Plan urges shared education scheme
Prayer event in St Anne’s focuses on the Church
24/7 Prayer turns its attention to the Church at its next major gathering to take place in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, tonight Friday May 24.
So far this year 24/7 Prayer has had powerful gatherings focusing on, Government/Public Square and Business, as well as reports of lots of on–going prayer rooms.
On May 24 the focus in the project’s ‘mountains of influence’ theme is the Church. A spokesperson said: “There is no doubt that God is stirring the hearts of His people around our land and uniting His church with a ‘kingdom agenda.’ There are beautiful signs of unity and kingdom collaboration presently taking place. Our desire is that the gathering in St Anne’s will be a celebration of this and an opportunity for us to cry out to God for more!”
Many senior church leaders will take part, representing the mainstream denominations and new churches, as will many of the recognised agencies that serve the church faithfully in Northern Ireland.
“As usual the evening will be a distinctive flow of worship and creative prayer as we call out to God to move in our land; unite our hearts for His purposes and send us out afresh in the power of His spirit,” the spokesperson added. The event begins at 7.30pm.
Episcopal ordination preacher
The preacher at the Ordination and Consecration of Revd Ferran Glenfield as Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh, service will be the Revd Canon Andy Lines, Mission Director of Crosslinks.
The service will be held in Armagh, on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday 31st May 2013 at 4.00pm.
Teacher training college vows to protect its Catholic ethos
Irish News – A specialist teacher training college has vowed to defend its Catholic ethos amid claims that the system needs an overhaul.
Higher education minister Stephen Farry told the assembly yesterday that the north was paying too much to educate its teachers.
Publishing an independent report, the Alliance MLA said there was a need for reform.
The study by consultants Grant Thornton looked at the cost of teacher training and the sustainability of the two main providers – Stranmillis University College and St Mary’s University College in Belfast. More at:
http://www.irishnews.com/news/teacher-training-college-vows-to-protect-its-catholic-ethos-1258003