Bishop launches children’s book for Cork cathedral’s 150th anniversary

For schools, parishes and youth clubs

Bishop Paul Colton, author of the new book on the 150th anniversary of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, has made available to schools, parishes and youth groups a book he wrote in recent months for children, young people and parishes to explore the 150th anniversary later this month (30th November) of the Consecration of one of Cork’s, indeed of one of Ireland’s, most iconic buildings: Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

The book itself may be downloaded from the diocesan website at:
[ http://cork.anglican.org/our-story/sfb150 ]

The website also includes useful links to individual pages and worksheets, as well as photographs and other materials. For children (and adults who do colouring too), the graphic designer, Jonathan Leahy Maharaj, has taken some of the window designs and cartoons of the Cathedral architect, William Burges, and recreated them for colouring according to the person’s own interpretation of the biblical stories they portray. Jacqui Wilkinson has created Google slides for use with the book, and also a school assembly, which alongside many other resources, are also linked to on the website.

Hard copies of the book entitled ‘Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral; resources for Children, Young People, Schools and Parishes’ will be distributed free of charge next week, having been generously sponsored by the Diocesan Education Committee.

Launching the book this morning, Bishop Colton said: ‘As Bishop, I have put together this activity booklet for use in schools, children’s and youth groups and, who knows, it may get some grown–ups thinking as well. It is not a lesson plan or single activity programme; it is a resource of ideas which I have no doubt that teachers and those who work with children and young people in our parishes will be able to draw on, to adapt, to amplify or to simplify as necessary. Your skills in this area are greater than mine. It is up to each teacher, youth leader or children’s leader to choose or to select from the materials and suggestions that follow according to the age group they are working with.

‘I want to thank those who have advised me and supported me in this work: John Ardis, Susan Colton, Nigel Dunne, Jonathan Leahy Maharaj, Alicia St Leger and Jacqui Wilkinson.’

Dean Nigel Dunne said: ‘I am most grateful to Bishop Colton for providing this resource as part of our 150th celebrations and to all those who have contributed to it.

‘Whilst primarily designed for children this resource opens up a world of creativity and learning for all age groups and shares some of the amazing architecture, art and stories which we here at St Fin Barre’s are so privileged to enjoy every day.’