Literature Committee22 Jan 10

Reviews Praise Book on Census and The Church of Ireland

Counting the People of God? The Census of Population and the Church of Ireland

Reviewing it in Irish Archives, the Journal of the Irish Society for Archives (vol. 16 Winter 2009), Ian D’Alton praises it for providing, ‘A significant contribution to an increasing literature on the social and statistical history of the Church.’ He commends it for its ‘fascinating’ set of seven case studies covering parishes in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, saying, ‘These studies are most valuable, as they relate the church to the local and the real.’ He ends by stating, ‘Macourt and Church of Ireland Publishing have produced a work of real value to scholars and church-people, the conclusions of which should be carefully absorbed.’

In the most recent edition of Search (vol.32 no.3 Autumn 2009), Valerie Jones’s review notes the book’s appeal for statisticians, historians and sociologists but also the ‘chapters of real relevance to the thinking church member, and particularly, those charged with planning strategies for outreach and evangelism.’

The publication with its broad appeal to general readers and specialists is available from the Good Bookshop, Donegall Street, Belfast, the Resource Centre, Rathmines, Dublin and the Bookshop at Queen's, University Road, Belfast, price £18 or €22. For further information also see: www.cip.ireland.anglican.org

ENDS