Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Supporting Christian Aid
Across Ireland, Church of Ireland clergy and parishioners have been supporting Christian Aid Week – the annual flagship appeal of the overseas aid agency which the denomination helped to found in 1945.
In Dublin, Canon Sonia Gyles, Rector of Sandford & Milltown, led the annual Christian Aid Week service which was broadcast live on RTÉ, marking the start of the 7– day spell of prayer and fundraising to help communities living in poverty and crisis overseas.
In Belfast, the Dean of St Anne’s Cathedral, the Very Revd Stephen Forde, launched Christian Aid Week by unveiling a space–saving vertical garden comprising 40 potted vegetables fixed to a wooden pyramid. The idea was inspired by the women growers of Nairobi, Kenya who are tackling poverty and hunger by growing food in cramped city spaces, enough to feed their families and surplus to sell for an income. Last September, Dean Forde visited the urban growing project in Nairobi which is the focus of this year’s Christian Aid Week appeal. Dean Forde exhibited the garden in the cathedral throughout Christian Aid Week, together with a series of Christian Aid Week posters from across the decades.
Fundraisers were held in several parishes across the island. In Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Canon Nicola Halford’s confirmation candidates held a cooked breakfast event; Dean Isobel Jackson hosted a coffee morning in the deanery garden in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, while soup lunches were the choice of Revd Niall Stratford in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. There was nothing on the menu in Broughshane, Co. Antrim where Canon Stuart Lloyd’s 72–hour fast raised almost £3,500 for the agency’s work.
‘ Summer Music in Sandford’ continues today (Friday) in Sandford parish church, Ranelagh, at 1.10pm when, as part of the PIpeworks Organ Festival, there will be an organ recital by Natham Whitley.
Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Cork, the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the ordination of two priests. The Revd Jean Taylor and the Revd Alan Howe, who were ordained to the diaconate in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral last June and are currently serving in Cobh & Glanmire union of parishes and in Bandon union of parishes respectively.
At Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Sunday the Archbishop of Dublin will dedicate the restored clerestory windows. The series of organ recitals continues in Christ Church on Monday at 6.30pm when the recitalist will be Damin Spritzer from the University of Oklahoma.
On Tuesday there will be a lunchtime recital in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, beginning at 1.15pm, by the Tara Quartet. The Cathedral has issued an open call for an artist in residence to work for a six week period next September and November. This initiative is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick City & County Council. The closing date for applications is 21 July and details may be had from the Dean of Limerick at [email protected],org.