CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 25th August 2001
From: The RCB Library
Email:
RCB Library Retirement of College Principal
On Friday 31st August Professor John Bartlett will retire from his post
as Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College and from the chair
of pastoral theology in Trinity College which is attached to the
principalship.
John Bartlett succeeded the late Jim Hartin as principal in 1989 and
brought his own distinctive gifts to Braemor Park. As Associate Professor of
Biblical Studies and a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, he was well versed
in the intricacies of collegiate life while his experiences of assisting the
late Canon Walter Burrows in Taney had introduced him to the idiosyncrasies
of the Irish parish. A scholar of international repute, he brought to the
College the intellectual rigour and the inquiring mind of the academic as
well as a meticulousness in all aspects of administration.
As Principal he established a new centralised training module for the
auxiliary ministry, created the new post of Director of Pastoral Studies and
encouraged the development of theological courses for laity. Under his
leadership, and with the support of his late wife, Jan, the physical
appearance of the College was greatly improved. The College Chapel was
re-ordered, new accommodation was provided for staff and guests, teaching
facilities were expanded, interior decoration and furnishing was improved
and the planting and maintenance of the grounds received close attention. In
short the College became more efficient, comfortable and agreeable, as it
continued to cast off the remnants of the stark life of the seminary.
Since 1986 Professor Bartlett has been a member of the chapter, and
subsequently the board, of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, from which he
will also retire. A thoughtful preacher, a dignified celebrant and a
conscientious administrator, he has, particularly during the illnesses of
the dean, been a vital part of the cathedral's life.
In retirement in Co. Dublin, he hopes to have more time for his academic
and research commitments, especially the editorship of the prestigious Palestine
Exploration Quarterly and the Society for Old Testament Studies of which
he will be president for the year 2002.
Today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) the services in Christ Church
Cathedral, Dublin, will be sung by the Renaissance Singers from Belfast
while, on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Evensong in St Patrick's will be
sung by the choir of Chester Cathedral. In St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast,
tomorrow (Sunday) a new series of autumn music begins with the visit of the
La Purisma Choira from California.
On Wednesday evening in All Saints Church, Carnew, the Bishop of Cashel
and Ossory, the Rt Revd John Neill, will institute the Revd Dermot Dunne to
the incumbency of Crosspatrick and Carnew group of parishes. Mr Dunne, who
was ordained in 1983, has been Dean's Vicar in Christ Church Cathedral,
Dublin, since 1999.
The Archbishop of Armagh will be in Dublin on Thursday to attend a dinner
to welcome the members of ARCIC II, the second Anglican-Roman Catholic
International Commission, to Ireland. ARCIC II continues the important
ecumenical dialogue which was begun in 1966 by the Anglican-Roman Catholic
Joint Preparatory Commission, established by Archbishop Michael Ramsey and
Pope Paul VI. The Joint Preparatory Committee reported in 1968 and was
followed by the establishment of ARCIC I under the chairmanship of Bishop
Alan Clark and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Henry McAdoo.
The final report of ARCIC I, which identified significant areas of
agreement, appeared in 1982. However, the report's conclusion that
"There are high expectations that significant initiatives will be
boldly undertaken to deepen our reconciliation and lead us forward in the
quest for full communion.." are still to be realised.
Church of Ireland Notes appear in the Irish
Times whose web site may be found at
http://www.ireland.com/ |
