Photo above – Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, Dr Margaret Daly–Denton, Canon Prof John Bartlett and Dr Kenneth Milne.
Two new books which present the Gospels as poems offer a novel way to read the Scriptures. ‘Meet the Apostles’ and ‘The Gospels in Iambic Verse’ by Canon Prof John Bartlett were launched in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute on Monday February 24.
Canon Prof Bartlett, a former Precentor of Christ Church Cathedral and former Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College, has been working on the project to render the Sunday Gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary into iambic verse. He has illustrated them with his own quirky line drawings.
‘Meet the Apostles’ is a prequel which provides an introduction to the Apostles of the New Testament in iambic verse. ‘The Gospels in Iambic Verse’ is the first volume of a series of three which will take the reader through the three year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary.
The books were launched by musician, liturgist and theologian, Dr Margaret Daly–Denton. She described the poems of the Sunday Gospel readings and the accompanying drawings as “a novel way to ‘hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them’”.
“These poetic renderings of the Gospels are the work of someone who processes into Christ Church Cathedral for Sunday Eucharist clutching his beloved Greek New Testament. Obviously, he brings to this project all the rigour of his biblical scholarship, but he also has a profound pastoral aim,” Dr Daly–Denton explained. “The Revised Common Lectionary’s design on a three year cycle is intended to help the people of God to experience and appreciate the distinctiveness of each Evangelist’s writing: Matthew’s in Year A, Mark’s in Year B, Luke’s in Year C and John’s during Lent, Easter and Christmas. This is exactly what this iambic project with its quirky illustrations does in a most attractive way.”
Canon Prof Bartlett described how the project began when he was listening to the Gospel one Sunday and the words fell into iambic pentameter: ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ From that point on it became a hobby, he said. He thanked everyone who supported him in getting the books published. He said that the proceeds, after costs, would go to Christ Church Cathedral in thanks for them putting up with him for 34 years.
‘Meet the Apostles’ is published by Christ Church Cathedral. ‘The Gospels in Iambic Verse’ is published by Church of Ireland Publishing. Both are on sale in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and will be available from the Church of Ireland online store – [ https://store.ireland.anglican.org ] – in due course.
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