CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 17 April 1999
From: The
RCB Library
Email: RCB Library
Retirement of the Dean of St Patrick's
Tomorrow (Sunday) at Evensong in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin,
there will be a farewell service for the dean, the Very Revd Maurice
Stewart, who is to retire from the stipendiary ministry. Dr Stewart will
preach at the service after which there will be presentations to the
dean.
Dr Stewart has been dean of St Patrick's since 1991 when he was
elected to succeed Dr Victor Griffin who had retired. In his eight and a
half years at the head of one of the most distinctive ministries in the
Church of Ireland he has, among other achievements, overseen a major
overhaul of the great Willis organ, the restoration of the Boyle and
Jones monuments, and the bringing to fruition of a standing exhibition,
'Living Stones' which will interpret St Patrick's to the ever growing
volume of visitors.
The role of St Patrick's as a national cathedral in which all parts
of the Church of Ireland are represented and where many special services
with a national and international flavour are held, presents its dean
with many challenges which by background, training and temperament
Maurice Stewart was well equipped to handle. A native of Belfast, his
pastoral experience in that city and in Newcastle, Co. Down, developed
his innate understanding of the northern church while his period on the
staff of the Theological College in Dublin from 1969 to 1991
reacquainted him with life in Dublin and forged close bonds with
generations of clergy whom he helped to train.
Together with the Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd John Paterson,
Dr Stewart was a regular participant in the annual meeting of deans and
provosts of the English cathedrals. There was always something new to be
learned about cathedral administration,liturgy, outreach and hospitality
which could be adapted to the life of St Patrick's where he presided
with great dignity over many important occasions.
A calm and genial manner frequently masked an acute intelligence and
a considerable intellect which after tomorrow (Sunday) will, no doubt,
be gently exercised in the calmer atmosphere of Greystones.
Tomorrow (Sunday) RTE will broadcast Morning Service from Ballyclare,
Co. Antrim, where the rector is Canon John Bond. The Archbishop of
Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will be in Derrygortreavy and Moneymore while
the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, will visit the trustee church
of Crinken. In the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, the preacher at
the Sung Eucharist will be Canon Victor Stacey, Rector of Dun Laoghaire
and Provincial and Diocesan Registrar of Dublin.
The first event in the current Christ Church Cathedral Arts programme will be
held in the cathedral tomorrow (Sunday) at 5.00 p.m. The recital, by
Maya Homburger (baroque violin) and Malcolm Proud (harpsichord), will
feature the music of Corelli, Beber and Bach. Tickets may be obtained
from Opus II, 24 South George's Street or at the door.
On Wednesday evening in Wesley House, Leeson Park, Dublin the
Mothers' Union in the dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough will host a
seminar on 'Marriage and Family Life'. The panel, which is to be chaired
by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, will consist of the Revd John
McCullagh, Mr Robert Lawson, the Revd Gillian Wharton and Mrs Margaret
Watchorn.
There will be a Festival of Flowers in Abington Church, Co. Limerick,
from Thursday until Sunday which will include, among many others, a
display devoted to John Jebb, Bishop of Limerick, 1823-33. In
association with the festival there will be an historical lecture on
Friday by Fr Mark Tierney OSB.
On Friday evening the Representative
Church Body Library will remain open until 7.30 p.m.
Church of Ireland Notes appear in the Irish
Times whose web site may be found at
http://www.ireland.com/ |
