Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from the Irish Times
Friends of Kilmore Cathedral
On Monday evening in the Hotel Kilmore, Dublin Road, Cavan, there will be a meeting to launch an association of Friends of St Fethlimidh's Cathedral, Kilmore. The association will seek to establish the cathedral as a focal point for the local community, to promote its heritage and make its cultural resources more accessible, to develop and promote the cathedral, and to develop friendships and common bonds among the members.
This initiative by the Dean of Kilmore, the Very Revd David Godfrey, is most timely for the cathedrals of the Church of Ireland are enjoying something of a renaissance. Interest in Irish heritage and local history has never been stronger while the place of the Church of Ireland, especially in areas where it is a demonstrably minority community, has never been more welcome. In short, the whole community is now interested in places which once seemed doomed to be the foci for a dwindling, disregarded community, and the objects of the attention of a few antiquarians.
The philanthropic, educational and social dimensions which an association of friends can bring to a cathedral are well illustrated by the examples of Christ Church and St Patrick's in Dublin. Kilmore may not have the catchment area of the capital city but it certainly will have potential links with many families and individuals who, though now far away, may recall St Fethlimidh's Cathedral with affection. For those who cannot attend the meeting on Monday, further information may be had from the Very Revd David Godfrey, The Deanery, Danesfort, Cavan.
Today (Saturday) the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will preach at a Millennium Service for the Girl Guides' Association in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
Tomorrow (Sunday) RTE will broadcast Morning Service from St Multose's Church, Kinsale, where the rector is Canon David Williams, while BBC Radio 4 will carry a service from Belfast Cathedral. In St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, the preacher in "The Church in the World Today" series will be Canon Paul Draper, while a former Bishop of Cork, Dr Samuel Poyntz, will preach in St Colman's Church, Dunmurry. In St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the second in a monthly series of addresses on "Hopes for the New Millennium" will be given at Evensong by the Revd Michael Hurley SJ.
The lunchtime lecture in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Tuesday will be given by Dr Hugh Campbell, UCD, who will speak on "The Wide Streets Commissioners and the City Corporation". At 8.00 pm in St Columba's College, Dublin, the first in a series of millennium lectures will be given in the College Chapel. Dr Michael Murphy will speak on "Culture and Faith a Personal Perspective", and all are welcome.
On Wednesday the Executive Committee of the Representative Church Body will meet in Church of Ireland House, Dublin. At 7.30 pm in Holy Trinity Church, Church Avenue, Rathmines, there will be an inter-church service of worship in French which has been organized by the ordinands in the Theological College. The preacher will be a second year student, M. Francois Murenzi. In Trinity College, the final lecture in the chaplaincy spring series will be given by Sergio Benedetti, National Gallery, who will speak on "Art and Christianity".
On Friday the Archbishop of Armagh will conduct the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4, and in the evening will institute the Revd W.R. Ferguson to the incumbency of Carnteel and Crilly, Aughnacloy. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, will open an Exhibition and Sale of Paintings in the Mageough Home, Cowper Road, Rathgar, which will be in aid of the Home and the Church's Ministry of Healing.