The Church of Ireland
News Briefing

CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 31st August 2002

From: The RCB Library
Email: RCB Library

Heritage Week and the Church of Ireland

Heritage Week begins tomorrow (Sunday) and the official booklet of events contains details of a bewildering array of happenings which are being staged throughout the country. Not surprisingly, since the Church of Ireland has inherited responsibility for a considerable part of the nation's heritage, its buildings and congregations are well represented.

There will be guided tours of the cathedrals of St Brendan, Clonfert, St Fin Barre, Cork, St Canice, Kilkenny, and St Lasarian, Old Leighlin while in St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe, there will be an organ recital. In St Fethlimidh's Cathedral, Kilmore, a guided tour, in booklet form, of Kilmore parish, by Wendy Swan, will be launched.

There will be a photographic exhibition and guided tours in St Mary's Church, Leixlip, while as part of a series of lunchtime lectures in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, the Revd Dr Adrian Empey will speak on St Ann's parish church. In Marsh's Library, there will be an exhibition of early printed books "From Major to Minor - the largest and smallest books in Marsh's Library" while in the Dublin Civic Museum "Three Steps to Heaven", the RCB Library's exhibition on the three cathedrals of Dublin, continues.

The most ambitious programme is that of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, which has arranged a series of lectures and a walking tour. Each weekday morning at 11.30, apart from Wednesday, there will be a lecture in the Lady Chapel on worship in the 16th century, a day in the choir, the musical heritage and, on Friday, as a finale, the Dean will reflect on "St Patrick's Through the Ages". On Wednesday evening Dr Raymond Gillespie, NUI-Maynooth, will lead a walking tour from St Audeon's Church to St Patrick's and so attractive has been the prospect of this venture that it is booked out.

Details of all these events may be had from the Heritage Week booklet which is available from Dúchas.

Today (Saturday) the Revd Dr W.J. Marshall retires from his post as Vice-Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College and from the full time stipendiary ministry. A curacy in Co. Down, service in India, a chaplaincy in TCD, an incumbency in Co. Dublin and a canonry in Christ Church Cathedral have provided a varied pastoral, academic and administrative background which has been put, most effectively, to the service of the College since 1992. Calm, meticulous and conscientious he has been the essence of stability in the, at times, turbulent waters of College life and both staff and students have much cause to be grateful for his time among them.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the choir of Chester Cathedral will sing at the Eucharist in Wicklow parish church. In St Colman's Church, Farahy, Co. Cork, the annual Elizabeth Bowen commemoration will be held at 3.30 pm. The service will be conducted by the Very Revd Dr Robert MacCarthy and the address will be given by Dr Michael Laffan from the Department of Modern History in UCD.

From Monday Waterford Cathedral will be closed for approximately six months to facilitate aspects of the restoration programme, including the return of the rebuilt Elliott organ. However, it is hoped that the building will be available for services at Christmastide.

On Friday the Mothers' Union triennial All Ireland Conference, "Faith in the Family-a Shared Vision" begins in Dublin City University. Among the speakers will be the Bishop of Tuam, Dr Richard Henderson, the former World Wide President, Lady Christine Eames, and the Head of the MU Action and Outreach Unit, Vicky Risely.