‘Heartbeat’ of cathedral restored after makeover; Use of ‘Polyester Protestant’ term criticised by archbishop; Changing Attitude Ireland Public Lecture; Anniversary of the Death of Sir Patrick Dun Commemorated; Essentials training day for youth and children’s leaders; CPAS event unpacks the meaning of Christian mentoring
‘Heartbeat’ of cathedral restored after makeover
A major restoration project on the country’s largest pipe organ — described as the “heartbeat” of the rich choral tradition of a landmark Cork cathedral — has been completed.
Irish Examiner – The €1.2m three-year project to revamp St Fin Barre’s Cathedral’s organ secures a 700-year-old choral tradition for future generations. The 143-year-old instrument was rededicated during a ceremony at the weekend attended by Bishop of Cork, Right Reverend Paul Colton, and Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, whose department helped fund the project to the tune of €212,000. Dean of Cork Nigel Dunne said the organ is much more than “just tubes and pipes”. ”It is part of being what we are — a worshipping community,” he said. “We offer choral music here three times a week so this organ is really the heartbeat behind that.” Bishop Colton said he was delighted to mark the end of the restoration which was also funded by the people of Cork through dozens of fundraising activities, which will continue. The instrument is one of the largest organs in Ireland, with four manuals and over 80 stops. The restored organ now boasts more than 4,500 pipes. It is also the island’s only organ situated in a pit. It was built in 1870 by English architect William Hill, regarded as the best organ builder of his time. He built cathedral organs at Westminster Abbey and King’s College Cambridge. He also built the organ in the Ulster Hall in Belfast, and the organ in Sydney Town Hall.
However, structural problems in the cathedral’s walls allowed water to seep in and affect the organ’s complex inner workings. It has been restored twice — most recently in 1966. But by 2007, so many of its electrical components were failing that it became unreliable, prompting a complete rebuild rather than repair. The restoration project was entrusted to Kilkenny-based Trevor Crowe, who recently installed the organs in Galway Cathedral and St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny. He said when he started the work the instrument was playing reasonably well. ”It was a little bit like an old car that is still driving but as soon as you start doing something to it, it falls apart,” he said. The completion of the work was marked with a sung office of Choral Evensong and an organ voluntary on Sunday.
Use of ‘Polyester Protestant’ term criticised by archbishop
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough has criticised members who describe newcomers as “Polyester Protestants” in a fresh intervention in the debate on “sectarianism” in the church.
Irish Times – Archbishop Michael Jackson criticised those who had “hurt” other members because they had married outside the church, as well as those who had recently been “deeply pejorative” about the Catholic Church’s position on abortion.
In an article in The Irish Times today, he also lamented the treatment meted out in Ireland to members of his church who had fought in the two World Wars.
The archbishop recalls from earlier this year “deeply pejorative remarks I heard directed against the Roman Catholic Church by members of these [Dublin and Glendalough] dioceses to me because of its stance and principle on abortion.”
People also “speak with me and write to me about the continuing hurt to which they are subjected from within the Church of Ireland community because they married someone of a tradition other than their own, most usually a Roman Catholic person,” he says.
He further expresses astonishment at church members using the phrase “Polyester Protestants” to describe newcomers.
He also recalls the “lives of public and private shame” in Ireland forced on members of the church “who had fought both in WWI and WWII as Irish people and who were shunned as ‘disloyalists’ (my own phrase) in their communities on their return”.
Archbishop Jackson’s article follows on from his presidential address to the Dublin and Glendalough diocesan synods last Monday where he spoke of his “bitter experience” of sectarianism in Dublin and Glendalough since becoming archbishop in 2011.
CNI note – see article posted on CNI yesterday for full text of Archbishop Jackson’s comment.
Changing Attitude Ireland Public Lecture
Changing Attitude Ireland is holding a public lecture by Judge Catherine McGuinness (a patron of Changing Attitude Ireland) in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, on Saturday October 26 at 2.00 pm. The lecture will be followed by the AGM of CAI.
The lecture is entitled 20 Years After Decriminalisation: What Next For Same Sex Couples? It will be followed by questions and discussion after which there will be presentations to special guests.
There will be a service of Holy Communion at 3.30 pm followed by tea. The AGM of Changing Attitude Ireland, for members only, takes place at 4.30 pm.
Anniversary of the Death of Sir Patrick Dun Commemorated
A commemorative service to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Patrick Dun (1642–1713) was held in St Michan’s Church on Wednesday October 16. Patrick Dun was churchwarden when the new church was built in 1686 and presented the church with some fine silverware and is interred in the crypt beneath.
The service of Choral Evensong was conducted by the Revd David MacDonnell and the UCD Choral Scholars provided contemporary music to Dun’s lifetime. The service ended with the unveiling of a plaque in memory of Sir Patrick Dun which was donated to the church by The Royal Irish College of Physicians.
When he died, Dun left his estate in trust to RCPI. Over the next two hundred and fifty years the Dun’s Trust would fund the King’s Professor, who taught medicine in Trinity College Dublin, and Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital on Grand Canal Street in Dublin.
In his will Dun also left his personal library to RCPI. This collection formed the nucleus of the RCPI’s library, which has been called Dun’s Library ever since. Dun’s library today contains over 30,000 books and is a unique resource for research into the history of medicine in Ireland.
Essentials training day for youth and children’s leaders
An Essentials training day is to be held on Saturday 2 November 2013 from 10.00 am – 3.30 pm at Dundela parish halls, Holywood Road, Belfast. Key note speaker: Sister Karen Webb (Church Army)
A day of Essential training workshops for those involved in children and youth ministry
A day full of Essential ideas, resources and practical hints and tips
A day to be inspired, encouraged and equipped with Essential workshops
Karen Webb, a Church Army officer, works with children through schools around the greater Lisburn area. She also coordinates the Children’s Ministry in Lisburn Cathedral. She has over 25 years experience working with children and young people in a number of settings.
CPAS event unpacks the meaning of Christian mentoring
The first Saturday day conference organised by the new CPAS Ireland Steering group took place on October 19 in Christ Church Parish Halls, Lisburn.
Thirty eight people representing a number of organisations and churches attended.
The day began with a welcome by the rector of Christ Church, the Rev Paul Dundas, who chairs the CPAS Ireland Steering Group. He prayed for the Rev James Lawrence, CPAS Leadership Principal, who was leading the day on the theme of ‘mentoring.’
During the four sessions, James unpacked the meaning of Christian mentoring, the qualities of mentors and mentees, how to set up mentoring in a parish or organisation and the stages to allow that to happen.
There were many opportunities for group exercises and discussions as issues were raised by the delegates. James was engaging and challenging and placed ‘mentoring’ as one tool to develop leaders and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ in the local church or in a church organisation. Any organisation, church or diocese can contact James Lawrence directly at CPAS for further information or training.
Resources were available for purchase including ‘Mentoring Matters,’ a resource produced by CPAS which can also be bought online. In recent months, a complimentary copy of this resource was sent to the Bishops in the Church of Ireland.
The next day conference is on Thursday March 27 in Lisburn on the theme of ‘Keeping watch over ourselves in leadership.’ This will be led by Graham Archer, CPAS Director of Ministry. Details of that day and future events are available on the CPAS website or by contacting the Rev Paul Dundas on 0774 0589465.