Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Christmas Tide Reading
For those fortunate to have a period of leisure between Christmas and New Year the prospect of catching upon some reading or arranging to restock the reference shelves can be tempting and, happily, 2024 has seen the publication of some significant books with a Church of Ireland perspective.
Books by or about bishops invariably attract attention. ‘Playing Dice with God. The Risk of Discipleship’ by the former Archbishop of Armagh, Richard Clarke, and published by Dominican Publications, is a characteristically challenging reflection, while also reflective, but in a different sense, is a new edition of ‘Prayers at the Office’ from the former Bishop of Limerick, Edward Darling. Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry (1768–1803), was a larger than life figure who opposed the tithe system, advocated the reform of the penal laws, favoured Catholic emancipation and amassed an important art collection. An edition of his letters by the former Librarian of Trinity College, Dublin, Peter Fox, has been published by the Walpole Society. Also with an episcopal link is ‘From George Berkeley, to George Floyd, to George Nkencko: The Church of Ireland and Black Theology’ by the Revd Philip McKinley and published by Church of Ireland Publishing.
The cult of the saints is rarely far from the life of the Irish Church and two books from Four Courts Press are useful additions to the genre. Philip Freeman’s edition of ‘Two Lives of St Brigid’ and the late Maurice Roche’s edition of ‘The Latin Lives of St Laurence of Dublin’ both have helpful translations.
On the history front, the late Raymond Gillespie’s ‘Reforming Galway. Civic Society, Religious Change and St Nicholas’s Collegiate Church, 1550–1750’ is a characteristic piece of research by the former Maynooth professor who deftly constructs a narrative of challenging times from many disparate sources. It has been published by Four Courts Press. For a more recent period, ‘Southern Irish Protestants. History, Lives and Literature’ by Ian d’Alton is an impressive collection of essays, published by Eastwood Books, which addresses the challenges real and imagined of the minority community in the new Ireland.
For those interested in church architecture, ‘George Edmund Street’ by the late Geoff Brandwood and edited for Liverpool University Press by Peter Howell, is a mine of information about the renowned British architect who, among other commissions, restored Christ Church cathedral. Dublin, and St Brigid’s cathedral, Kildare. On a more local level William Laffan has edited, for the Belfast–based Follies Trust, ‘The Malone Mausoleum, Kilbixy, Co. Westmeath’. This is a small collection of essays which deals with the history, architecture and family connections of this remarkable monument in the graveyard of St Bigseach’s parish church which is part of the Mullingar group of parishes.
And, of course, 2025 would be incomplete without a copy of ‘Church of Ireland Directory 2025’ compiled by Heather Jestin and edited by Dr Susan Hood.
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times