The Church of Ireland
News Briefing

CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 10th August 2002

From: The RCB Library
Email: RCB Library

New issue of Search

A new issue of Search, A Church of Ireland Journal will appear shortly. The editor, Dr. Stephen White, Dean of Killaloe, has assembled an issue with a distinct historical flavour, although all the contributors seek to draw out the contemporary relevance from the periods of history under examination.

An intriguing article has been written by the Revd Kenyon Homfray who examines th4e Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion from the standpoint of canon law and asks what authority they possess in the Church of Ireland and whether this is a legal authority. Mr. Homfray, who is curate of Convoy in Co. Donegal, is one of a small group of young Church of Ireland clergy who have been studying for a degree in canon law in the University of Wales. At a time when the Church of Ireland is apparently full of experts on almost every conceivable topic it is reassuring that some are taking the trouble to become learned in at least one important area of ecclesiastical administration.

More overtly historical is an examination by the Revd Patrick Comerford of the Irish Non-Jurors, while the Revd Kevin Moroney, priest in charge of St. John's Church, Sandymount, examines Anglo-Catholicism in the Diocese of Dublin. The theological characteristics of the nineteenth century as a whole occupy the attention of Dr. Andrew Pierce from the Irish School of Ecumenics.

The "In Retrospect" piece in this issue is an examination of the late Archbishop McAdoo in the context of ARCIC of which he was co-chairman. The writer is the Revd Dr T.K. Carroll, who like Dr. McAdoo, is an acknowledged expert in the writings of Bishop Jeremy Taylor. Fr. Carroll's most recent book, Wisdom and Wasteland, Jeremy Taylor in his Prose and Preaching Today, was published last year by Four Courts Press.

This evening, Saturday, the Orivesi Male Voice Choir from Finland will give a recital in St. Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, in aid of the Cathedral restoration fund. Today, Saturday, and tomorrow, Sunday, the choir of Malahide Parish, directed by Rodney Baldwin, will sing the services in Bath Abbey, while in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the services will be sung by the Cantabile Singers.

Tomorrow, Sunday, morning RTE will broadcast a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer. The celebrant will be the Revd Tom Gordon and the preacher the Revd Patrick Comerford, the newly appointed Regional Officer of CMS Ireland.

Next week the Arcadian Singers, one of Oxford's most highly regarded choirs, will begin a tour of Dublin which will include a number of Church of Ireland venues. On Monday they will sing Evensong in St. Patrick's Cathedral and on Tuesday and Wednesday evening will give concerts in the Chapel of Trinity College and St. Maelruain's Church, Tallaght, respectively. Both concerts will begin at 7.30 pm.

The final recital in this year's Festival of Classical Music in St. Barrahane's Church, Castletownshend, Co. Cork, will be given on Thursday evening. "Song Circle - A Feast of Delights" will be a programme of songs and duets by Kathleen Tynan (soprano), Paul McNamara (tenor) and Grainne Dunne (piano).

Applications are invited for the Archbishop of Dublin's Certificate in Theology course for the years 2002 to 2004. This two year course provides a programme of study leading to a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. It is open to candidates from the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough and from further afield. Details may be had from parish clergy and applications should be received by the Diocesan Office by 30 September.