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Belvoir choirmaster awarded MBE

Congratulations to Geoffrey Cherry (above) who was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced just over a week ago.

Geoffrey is the Principal of Pond Park Primary School, Lisburn, and has been honoured for services to Education. Many will also know him as the popular choirmaster and pianist in Belvoir Parish where he has served for almost 25 years.

He said: “I was obviously delighted to receive the news a few weeks ago! It is an honour I accept on behalf of many people who have journeyed with me. I’ve been blessed to have worked with outstanding colleagues who have supported me professionally and personally throughout my career. I also value the role of my school Governors who have selflessly invested so much time into Pond Park.

“I only ever wanted to teach and this award is dedicated too to the children I’ve met along the way.

“I have been involved in the music team in Belvoir for close on 25 years. Belvoir is a wonderful, accepting community of people. I’m ‘in charge’ of the choir and we meet weekly; a unique group of people who support each other in so many ways.

“Belvoir is such an exciting church to belong to and the music and worship is valued and appreciated by all…so much so that our Rector Adrian is also a member of the choir too!”

Rector, Revd Adrian McCartney, couldn’t speak more highly of his dedicated and modest choirmaster:

“Geoffrey runs a choir that goes way beyond choir. Last week the child of one of the choir was in hospital and the choir took the hours right through the night on rota to keep this child constantly in prayer. Sometimes music is way down the list, but that is Geoffrey all over. He pursues the important, provides for the people, shapes the systems to create opportunity and welcomes the contributions of all. We all love him to bits and love that he has been noticed.”

Belfast to Cork run for JigsawFor one week from Saturday 24th October a team from Ecclesiastical Ireland will clock up 424.1 km (the distance from St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast to St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral in Cork) by walking, running, cycling, or swimming each day for 7 days. Through our involvement in this we are hoping to raise much needed funds for Jigsaw , the young people’s mental health charity. Ecclesiastical Insurance will match funds raised. If you wish to sponsor the team please Click Here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ecclesiastical-insurance1?utm_

Derry Choir Festival’s 200 voice Danny Boy

“Our festival chorus is a global, virtual affair this year! 200 singers who attended a workshop with Bob Chilcott will be performing Danny Boy at our closing concert. Join us on YouTube at 7pm on Sun 25th October”.

Canon for St Canice’s

The Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory has appointed the Rev’d Ian Coulter to the Chapter of St Canice’s Cathedral. Canon Coulter will hold the Prebendal Stall of Blackrath in succession to Canon Pater Tarelton who recently retired.

Ian is originally from Riverstown, near Birr, Co Offaly. He graduated from TCD with a BA (Mod) in English and Irish and initially trained as a teacher. He started work with the National Rehabilitation Board and in 1979 was transferred to its Kilkenny office. He worked with NRB until its dissolution in 2000, when he commenced work with the Citizens Information Board, from which he retired in 2019. He is married to Daphne and they have two adult children: Rian and Ailbhe. He was ordained as a Non-Stipendiary Minister in St Canice’s Cathedral in June 1999 and has served in the parishes of Kilkenny, Castlecomer, Clonenagh, Portlaoise and is currently Priest-in-Charge of Templemore Union of Parish.

Ian will be formally installed when present restrictions are lifted.

Other appointments –

The Reverend Ian Cruickshank to be a Canon of St Edan’s Cathedral, Ferns

The Reverend Trevor Sargent, curate of Waterford Union of Parishes to be Rector of Bunclody Union of Parishes

Cork Diocesan Youth Council benefits from Growing Lives grant

Back in July, the Cork Diocesan Youth Council (CDYC) had the opportunity to apply for the Allchurches Trust Growing Lives grant. Allchurches Trust is one of the UK’s largest grant–making charities and gave more than £16 million to churches, charities and communities in 2018. Its funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.

Recently, CDYC were informed that their application had been accepted.

When CDYC first decided to apply for the grant, there were a lot of discussions had about what the grant would be most suitably used for.

Since March of this year, when everything went into lockdown, the Diocesan Youth Officer and a group of young leaders took to social media and on–line events to keep young people across the diocese connected.

They held regular Youth Zoom meetings, with a different activity every session. What started out as a once a month meeting, ended up being a weekly on–line event as it was recognised very quickly by the Youth Officer, young leaders, the youth and their parents that there was a need for the on–line connectivity to continue more frequently. They held table quizzes, scavenger hunts, guess who games, music games, miming games etc. And even put a fun video together as a project, which the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross promoted and sent it out across the diocese through social media for the teens!

But throughout all of this time and because CDYC weren’t prepared for such a pandemic, like many more people weren’t, the equipment that our Diocesan Officer and young leaders were using wasn’t significant enough for the scale of the work that was being done.

So it was finally decided that in order for CDYC to continue carrying out their work in the areas of youth work, promoting mission, leadership development, community involvement and looking after the young people’s mental health plus many more factors, that CDYC would up grade and purchase new equipment in order to develop their on–line projects.

This would enable them to grow their audience to engage with the church through on–line activity, to see young people engage in worship, prayer and Bible study on–line, and to courage the young people to remain active in the church throughout this current situation. The equipment will also help to develop leadership skills among the young teenage leaders. And finally, to be able to communicate with young people on a regular basis to develop opportunities to help young people to get through these difficult times.

The Diocesan Youth Officer for Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Hilda Connolly, said: “CDYC are very grateful to Allchurches Trust for their generosity and support and that they will certainly put the grant to good use!”

Well said

Pointers for Prayer

Today we pray for cities across Nigeria. Demonstrations against police brutality have escalated in response to attacks on protesters by unidentified men with machetes. We pray for a just peace in Nigeria and an end to police violence worldwide.

God in creation

Black Head light near Whitehead