NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – The Rev Katie McAleer and Archdeacon Robert Miller said they would hold the culprits ‘in our prayers’

Derry clergy forgive as church burglars are jailed

Clergy at Christ Church Londonderry have said they forgive two men who desecrated the church during a break-in over two years ago during which damage estimated at £75,000 was caused.

25-year-old Harry Duffy, from Elmwood Terrace in the city, and James Anthony Kennedy, who is 24 and from Glenside Park, were jailed for two years and eight months. They’ll both serve part of their sentence on licence.

In a statement, the Rector of Christ Church, Archdeacon Robert Miller, and the parish’s Pastoral Director, Rev Katie McAteer, said they forgave the two intruders and thanked the judge for the sensitive way in which he had dealt with “what has, for our parishioners, been a most distressing case”.

Below is Archdeacon Miller and Rev McAteer’s statement in full:

“We are thankful that this matter has now been dealt with by the courts and grateful to Judge Philip Babington for the sensitive manner in which he has dealt with what has – for our parishioners – been a most distressing case.

“It is of some comfort to us to learn that, in Judge Babington’s words, there was no “religious or sectarian aspect to this offending”. Indeed, since the break-in, we in Christ Church have been blessed and encouraged by the sympathy and support shown to us by well-wishers from right across the community – most notably by our closest neighbours in St Eugene’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.

“We take no pleasure from the significant custodial sentences handed down to the two offenders. We do feel, however, that actions have consequences and that all of us should be accountable before the law.

“On behalf of the parishioners of Christ Church, we now consider this matter closed. As Rector and as Pastoral Director, we forgive Harry Duffy and James Kennedy for what they did and will be holding them in our prayers. We hope the two men can learn from this incident and that they will succeed in getting their lives back on track.”

20th anniversary of Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Chris Patten is speaking in Belfast City Hall on 26 Feb to mark our 20th anniversary and that of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Lord Patten will talk about his life and then take part in a question and answer session. Journalist Mark Carruthers will chair the proceedings. Book online: http://ow.ly/oYkx50xZFEo

Coordinator for new LGBT Heritage Project

Richard O’Leary will be the coordinator of the new LGBT Heritage Project, jointly with The Rainbow Project and senior partner HEReNI. “This National Lottery Heritage Fund project will raise awareness of our hidden past in N. Ireland.”

Richard is a visiting research fellow at the School of History at QUB and a well known performance storyteller. He was Artist in Residence at last year’s Outburst Arts festival.
Email [ history@hereni.org ]or call 028 9024 9452 for more information.

Adapting historic buildings for climate change

Do you own a listed building? Are you concerned with the impact of our changing climate and weather patterns on historic buildings? There will be a presentation organised by Listed Building Owners forum on January 30 @ 9:30 am – 1:00 pm. Admission is Free

Come along to Riddel Hall, Belfast, to:

Understand how moisture movement in traditional buildings behaves and how this is being impacted by climate change.
Learn how historic buildings can be made more resilient to protect and conserve the historic fabric.
Understand how historic buildings are sustainable and with careful consideration for their construction and use, through a holistic approach, become more energy efficient to ensure modern standards are met to enhance long term continued use.

This event is directed towards owners of listed buildings, but agents of owners will find it of interest.
Bookings: [ https://bit.ly/37UmfyC ]

Armagh organ recital

The first organ recital of the new decade in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, will be given by Eoin Cassidy on Sunday 9 February 2020 at 4.15pm.

Eoin is a student at St Colman’s College, Newry, and his organteacher is Mr James Murphy. Currently Eoin is working for his Grade 8 in Organ, having already gained a DipABRSM in Trumpet Performance and a Grade 8 in Piano and Singing. He took up the organ when a student at St Colman’s and hopes to study music at university.

Speaking of his interest in music, Eoin said: “I enjoy music as a hobby, and am a member of the Ulster Youth Chamber Choir, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and the South Ulster Youth Orchestra (SUYO). Recently I toured with the SUYO in Belgium and played the organ in St Martin’s Cathedral, Ypres.

As part of his programme for his Armagh recital, Eoin has chosen Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Major. He explained the reason for this choice: “I selected this piece to open my recital as it demands attention from the onset, due to the building chords in the hands above the steps, jumps and leaps in the pedal line, which triumphantly returns to close the Prelude. The Fugue starts off understated but quickly begins to accumulate musical ideas which are developed through sequence, repetition and imitation, as expected in any of Bach works! It too is brought to a climatic end with rich chords utilising the full organ, which I find most enjoyable to perform.”

Eoin will also play works by Bridge, Pietro Yon, Thalben–Ball and Mathias. An example of one of the selected works is Bridge’s Adagio in E Major and Eoin said: “What better way to contrast Bach than the slow and extraordinary work by Frank Bridge. Bridge earned a scholarship which allowed him to study with Stanford and he quickly grew to become an acclaimed violinist and composer. This work demands the most legato playing and great control of the organ to grow from pianissimo to fortissimo seamlessly, whilst maintaining an underlying bi–tonality between E major and G Major. I feel that this piece would be too beautiful not to play on the magnificent organ in St. Patrick’s.”

Dr Stephen Timpany, the Cathedral Organist, said: “Eoin is clearly passionate about music and is already an accomplished musician. I very much look forward to his recital in the Cathedral.”

Admission to the recital is free with a retiring collection most welcome towards the further endowment of the Cathedral choir through the Archbishop’s Choir Fund. For further information, please contact St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh
c/o Armagh Robinson Library, 43 Abbey Street, Armagh, BT61 7DY
(028) 3752 3142
[ admin@stpatricks-cathedral.org ] [ www.stpatricks-cathedral.org ]

God in creation