Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Christ Church Lectures
Visitors to Christ Church cathedral in Dublin are challenged every day by the figure of a homeless person lying on a bench, identifiable only from the stigmata visible on his exposed feet. The provocative sculpture by Timothy Schmalz, installed in 2015, recalls the Archbishop’s New Year reflection which noted that ‘A fruitfully functioning society in 2025 will look first and last to provision for the vulnerable’.
A new series of free lunchtime lectures on Tuesdays in February at 1.10pm titled ‘No homes to go to: Dublin charities and homelessness, 1790–2025’, will explore historical and current themes of homelessness over more than two centuries in Dublin. Lectures will focus on the charities that have sought to care for and empower the homeless from the late 18th century to the present day, along with an examination of the economic causes of the persistence of homelessness in the 21st century.
The first talk, ‘Serving the poor of Dublin since 1790: The Sick & Indigent Roomkeepers Society’, whose original building still stands north–east of Dublin Castle, will be given on Tuesday by the historian, Felix Larkin, who was chairman of the society from 2012–16.
On subsequent Tuesdays the historian, Eimhin Walsh, will talk about the Mendicity Institute, Pat Dennigan, the current CEO will speak about Focus Ireland, and the series will conclude with a talk on ‘Ireland’s housing crisis’ by Professor Ronan Lyons, from TCD, an internationally recognised expert on housing markets and housing price indices.
Admission is free and all are welcome. The lectures take place in the chapter house building upstairs in the Music Room, which is only accessible by stairs. The Friends of Christ Church Cathedral have generously supported of the lecture series.
This evening (Friday) at 7.30pm, the Past Choristers of Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, will present ‘A Night at the Movies’, your favourite film and theatre numbers brought to life by singer, Judith Lyons, and pianist, Judith Gannon. Tickets will be available at the door and there will be refreshments from 7pm
On Sunday Benjamin’ Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols will be sung by the Cathedral Choir in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, at 3.15pm, while later in the evening the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the Candlemass Procession in Christ Church cathedral, which will begin at 5pm.
In St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, there will be a lunchtime concert at 1.15pm by Emma English (soprano) and Sarah–Ellen Murphy (mezzo soprano).
The Church of Ireland journal, Search, is seeking an honorary treasurer to succeed the heroically long serving, Michael Denton, who wishes to retire. The main duties are to keep the accounts, maintain the subscription list, organize the mailing list and to assist at the Search stand at the General Synod. The ideal person will have computer keyboard skills. basic accounting skills and a good knowledge of Excel. Interested persons may contact the Search Honorary Secretary, Professor Elizabeth Oldham, ([email protected]) for more details.
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times