The Church of Ireland
News Briefing

CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 28th September 2002

From: The RCB Library
Email: RCB Library

In 1996 the APCK published three leaflets which sought to answer questions which were regularly asked about the Church of Ireland. The issues which were addressed were "Protestant and Catholic", "Irish and Universal" and "Clergy and People". The reaction was positive and encouraged by this response a further three leaflets have been produced.

The titles are "The Bible", "The Eucharist" and "Mary: Virgin and Mother". It is hoped that these will provide simple yet authoritative summaries of Church of Ireland teaching and correct some of the erroneous notions of Church of Ireland belief which are regularly peddled in the media.

The new leaflets, together with copies of the original three titles, will be circulated to incumbents and further copies are available from Mr. Keith Dungan, Lay Honorary Secretary of the APCK, at Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6.

Today the Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocesan Synod will take place in the Synod Hall, Tuam, and the Meath and Kildare Synod will take place in Wilson's Hospital School, Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath. In St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, there will be an informal concert by Colin Nicholls and his family with a collection in support of the cathedral's choral foundation.

Today and tomorrow will be the last opportunity to view the RCB Library's exhibition "Three Steps to Heaven" which seeks, through archives, books, photographs and other objects, to introduce Dublin's three cathedrals. The exhibition, in the Dublin Civic Museum, 58 South William Street, Dublin 2, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning RTE will televise an Ecumenical Harvest Thanksgiving Service from St. David's Church, Naas, led by the Rev Michael Wooderson, and Father John Brickley. The Bishop of Cork will be in St. Fin Barre's Cathedral for the Rotary International Service and for Evensong with the Friends of St. Fin Barre's, which will be followed by tea in the palace.

In Dublin tomorrow morning there will be a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 60th anniversary of the consecration of St. Mary's Church, Crumlin. The preacher will be Canon Sidney Laing and the music will be enhanced by the Dublin Male Voice Choir and the St. George's Brass Band. All friends of St. Mary's and former parishioners will be welcome. At 8 p.m. in Freemason's Hall, Molesworth Street, there will be a "Evening with Oscar", devised and performed by Alan Stanford, in aid of St. Bartholomew's Church Music Fund.

Next week the Down and Dromore Diocesan Mission, entitled "Hearts on Fire" will take place in Belfast Cathedral. There will be a youth event on Monday and on subsequent evenings there will be an address by Bishop Harold Miller. Celebrity figures such as Diane Louise Jourdan (BBC) and Lynda Bryans (UTV) will take part and there will be faith stories by local people. Substantial choirs from the two dioceses will lead worship.

The Annual Hewson Memorial Recital in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, in memory of Dr. George Hewson, organist of St. Patrick's from 1920 to 1960, will be given on Wednesday evening. The recitalist will be the acclaimed organist Ben van Oosten from the Netherlands.

On Thursday a new series of lunchtime talks with the topic "I Believe..." begins in St. Thomas's church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, at 1 p.m. when the speaker will be the writer and commentator, Fintan O'Toole. In Roscarberry at 8 p.m. a restoration project for St. Fachtna's Cathedral will be launched. Further information may be had from the Dean of Ross at 023-48166.