Irish Times Notes15 Nov 24

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Armagh Christmas Stamp

Royal Mail has announced that an original illustration of St Patrick’s cathedral, Armagh, will feature on one of its Christmas special stamps in 2024. The stamps feature some of the many spectacular cathedrals in the UK – Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bangor and Westminster.as well as Armagh. The stamps were illustrated by Penzance–based, British artist, Judy Joel, whose popular paintings have been sold worldwide over the last 50 years. Armagh cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt on at least 17 occasions, with the construction of the current cathedral beginning in the 13th century. St Patrick’s boasts fine stained glass and monuments and is known for its choral music tradition.

In Belfast tomorrow (Saturday) there will be a recital in St Columba’s church, Knock, at 7.30 when Ioana Petcu–Colan (Leader, Ulster Orchestra), Tristan Russcher (piano / organ), William Curran (clarinet), Sungho Jang (piano) and cantors Morven Bremner, Lauren Cheshire, Caroline Woods, directed by Joe McKee, will perform works by Pergolesi, Haydn, Fauré, Stanford & Pierné.

The series of lunchtime recitals in St Ann’s church, on Dublin’s Dawson Street,  continues on Sunday at 12.45pm when Aileen Cahill will perform on piano.

The series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, to mark the centenary of the death of the composer Charles Villiers Stanford continues on Tuesday at 1.10pm when Paul, Rodmell, form the University of Birmingham, will speak on ‘Stanford & Symphonies’.

The Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland has announced that its Advent Series, ‘My Dwelling Place’,  will take place from 25 November to 16 December, on Mondays at 11.30am – 1.00pm. The sessions will run as a series of mini–retreats with guest contributors sharing stories that capture for them what their ‘dwelling place’ is. Facilitators, Lydia Monds & Carol Casey, will offer a piece of scripture and/or a poem or piece of art, and people will be given the opportunity to sit with it, to wonder about it, and then to slow right down and to pray about it, listening to God’s voice in this season. We particularly want to welcome people who find the build up to Christmas difficult, for whatever reason.  To book your place, go to Eventbrite and donate whatever you can afford. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.