Architectural Drawings Website Launched; Big response at Belfast Deanery meeting; Ordination of deacon intern at Belfast Cathedral; Contemplative Prayer Quiet Day
Architectural Drawings Website Launched
The Representative Church Body Library, which is the library and archives of the Church of Ireland, has launched the first phase of a project to provide an on–line catalogue of its architectural drawings of church buildings.
The Library holds several collections of architectural drawings, the largest of which is a miscellaneous collection of 19th century drawings of Church of Ireland churches and cathedrals. Last year the Library, with the support of the Esme Mitchell Trust, conducted a pilot project to catalogue and digitize these drawings, and the architectural historian, Dr Michael O’Neill, was engaged to carry out this work.
Following the successful completion of the pilot project the Library was awarded a grant from the Built Heritage element of the Environmental Fund by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaelatacht and this, together with support from the RCB, has enabled Dr O’Neill to complete the first phase of the catalogue.
The purpose of this project is to make an important heritage resource freely available and, by providing surrogates, to assist with the conservation of a unique collection which is, in part, very fragile. Some, 1,279 drawings of 229 churches in the dioceses of Achonry, Ardagh, Ardfert, Armagh, Cashel, Clogher, Clonfert and Cloyne are now freely available to researchers on the website.
It is anticipated that this resource will be of value to students, historians, architects, and the wider heritage community.
The project has been commended by Mr Michael Webb, Chairman of the Library and Archives Committee and also Chairman of the Irish Architectural Archive.
Funding is being sought to continue this valuable project
http://www.archdrawing.ireland.anglican.org
Big response at Belfast Deanery meeting
Around 200 people from the 10 parishes, unions and groups of parishes which make up the Mid Belfast Rural Deanery met in Holy Trinity, Ballysillan, on Monday September 10. This was the eighth of a series of nine rural deanery meetings organised by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and the Diocesan Vision Strategy group. The meeting was opened by the Rural Dean, the Rev Robin Moore, and Bishop Alan spoke about the thinking behind the Vision Strategy, and the reasons for it, in particular the need for churches to adapt to the changing culture and communities in which they minister.
The Rev Alan McCann, rector of Holy Trinity, Woodburn, a member of the Vision Strategy group, outlined the findings of a survey of parishes in the diocese, highlighting both the positive and negative outcomes, and Bishop Alan addressed some of the specifics of our changing culture and context, something he had explored in depth during his Lent seminars earlier this year. The meeting was shown a Powerpoint presentation of some examples of good practice already going on across the diocese. Parishes were each given a copy of the extended presentation to take back to their churches projects which might best serve the needs of their community.
Ordination of deacon intern at Belfast Cathedral
A Service of Ordination of Andrew Campbell as a deacon to serve an internship in St Anne’s Cathedral took place on the Cathedral on September 9. Andrew was ordained by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and the preacher was the Rev Darren McCartney, rector of Knockmamuckley, Diocese of Down and Dromore, who is soon to take up his new position as suffragan Bishop of the Arctic. A native of Carrickfergus, Andrew lives in Lisburn with his wife Allison. He was educated at Belfast High School and read Ancient History and Byzantine Studies at Queen’s University. He went on to read Theology at Union Theological College.
During his time at St Anne’s Andrew will be writing a PhD thesis on the ethical impact of Jesus’ death. Prior to his ordination, Andrew worked with the Church of Ireland as student worker in the chaplaincy team in both the Jordanstown and Belfast campuses and as a youth worker in St Nicholas, Carrickfergus.
Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer
The Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer invites you to a Quiet Day on Saturday 15 September from 11.00am to 3.00pm in Drumbo Parish Church, Ballylesson, Belfast.
The Witness(conductor) will be Ms Nuala Dudley. There will be two Exercises in the morning and after lunch, a service of Holy Communion with Laying on of Hands
Tea and coffee are provided but please bring a packed lunch. A donation of £10 (concession £7) will be collected.
Everyone welcome. For further details, please contact Canon Raymond Fox Tel: 07511752160 canonfox@btinternet.com