Press Releases01 May 04

Archbishop Eames' sermon at the reopening and rededication of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, and the installation of new Lay Canons

THE REOPENING AND REDEDICATION OF
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, ARMAGH
AND THE INSTALLATION OF LAY CANONS

Sermon preached by
The Most Revd Dr. Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh
Friday 30th April 2004

Historic occasion

This evening is a historic moment in the long history of St Patrick?s Cathedral. After months of extensive work and renovation we have reopened its doors for worship and witness and I feel certain you will all agree these hallowed portals are resplendent in their fresh colours and the atmosphere genuinely renewed. I share the relief of all involved in the life of this Cathedral at the completion of this work after a long period of professional work carefully carried out by our Diocesan Architect, the main contractors, Maurice Girvan and Sons and the Stonemasons, McConnell & Sons to whom I pay tribute this evening. On my visits to the Cathedral during that work I saw for myself the complexity of what was involved and on behalf of the Church I thank Mr Stephen Leighton, Mr Maurice Girvan and all his sub-contractors and the staff of McConnells for a magnificent job well done. The challenge of restoring a historic building calls for great expertise and sensitivity ? both of which I believe have been present in this Cathedral during the past year. As we look around us we must all agree that we have a Cathedral worthy of its name and place in history.

New Lay Canons

As we rejoice and offer thanks to Almighty God we have also witnessed the installation of two new lay canons of St Patrick?s. Some years ago the General Synod granted authority to the Archbishop of Armagh to appoint lay canons in recognition of particular significant lay service to the life of the Church of Ireland. In the exercise of that privilege I have appointed persons who have given freely of their expertise and gifts to the work of our Church throughout Ireland. The passing to higher service of Mr Godfrey Quayle of Down Diocese and Mr Jack Dickson of Armagh, have allowed me to honour Mr Martin White of Armagh and Mr Garrett Walker of Dublin. Mr White was organist and choirmaster of this Cathedral for 34 years and contributed so much to the musical tradition of St Patrick?s as well as to the worship of the wider Church. Mr Walker has been a leading layman in Dublin diocese for many years as well as serving with distinction in the General Synod and central Church committees. I pay tribute to them both as they join the other lay canons, Canons Barry Dean, Robin Lewis-Crosby, Dr Muriel McCarthy and Reggie Kenny and welcome them to St Patrick?s.

When I originally sought the authority of General Synod to add lay canons to the life of this Primatial Cathedral I wanted to emphasise the role and contribution of laity to the work of the Church of Ireland. In Ireland the lay Chapter of St Patrick?s is a unique institution. I believe its existence does emphasise my original wish and I also believe that Canon White and Canon Walker are worthy recipients of this recognition.

Rôle of a Cathedral

This evening I want to ask you to reflect with me for a short time on the witness and work of a Cathedral in the life of the Church.

A representative place

First, I believe a Cathedral is called upon to be a representative place of witness to the world.

We live in days of growing secularisation in our community when the Christian Church in all its traditions finds it has to face attitudes which include growing indifference, scepticism and irrelevance. Faith communities are being compelled to focus on new methods of proclaiming the Gospel imperative to society. Many of the traditional means are no longer relevant to a society which is asking questions about efficiency, market-place values and economic realities more than it is considering what we have long called ?the religious?. Within the Church we need to recognise these facts. We need to seek new and relevant ways of presenting the spiritual dimension to modern life.

We have only to experience the new found devotion of many people to the shopping malls, to personal spending on the luxuries of life and devotion to material satisfaction to recognise that for many the particularly religious dimension to life has become eroded. There are for the many ?new Cathedrals? and ?new altars? to their expectation of satisfaction.

But it is also true that a reduction of those traditional ways of recognising the religious does not mean that people have lost interest in spiritual values. We are a generous people when human need is highlighted. We are a caring people when someone is in trouble. We are becoming more and more conscious of human rights and justice issues. What many have grown weary of is the traditional ways the Church has expressed those great values.

For many visitors and onlookers who represent different nationalities and religious traditions or none ?a Cathedral is the Church.? It speaks of history of the past. It represents past episodes in a nation?s life and speaks of milestones in human history. It is well recognised that a Cathedral can easily be designated as a museum. To that extent there is danger. For while the heritage of any great Cathedral is bound to be the trusteeship of reminders of the past and those reminders are held in perpetuity for future generations it is surely much more than an art gallery or an historic exhibition. It must surely be a place which speaks of the spiritual dimension to that past history. As generation has passed on its successes and failures of human experience to the next generation those very successes and failures must be seen to have a spiritual aspect. Visitors to St Patrick?s are reminded of Ireland?s past. That past has often been turbulent and divisive. But through every episode there has been a spiritual dimension, both through courageous spiritual witness and sadly religious influence which has been less than we would have hoped. Questions of a spiritual nature have been asked in each of those generations. A Cathedral is guardian of those contradictions as well as those successes.

A place of reflection

Second, a Cathedral should be a place of reflection. We have all had the experience of visiting great places of worship where the very atmosphere speaks of the silence of God. It is impossible to find exact words to describe such atmosphere. It is the result of generations of prayer and worship and respect for the things of God. A Cathedral is not just a tourist attraction. It is a place of witness to the mercy of God in the past and in the present. It must be a symbol of vision and hope for the future. It must be a place that provides space ? space for quiet reflection, space for being still and space to reflect on the deeper things of God.

Some years ago I came across a woman kneeling quietly and alone in this Cathedral. Later she told me something of her story. Tragedy had struck her family. She had no real Church connection. She said to me : ?I came here today to be quiet and to rediscover a sense of peace I could not find anywhere else.?

A place of peace and space to be alone with God ....

A focal point

But third, a Cathedral should be the focal point of Diocesan and indeed national Church worship.

Over the years bishops have been consecrated here, clergy have been ordained and adults have confirmed their baptismal promises. Over the years Church organisations have held their annual services in this place. Soon the General Synod of the Church of Ireland will worship here and a new Book of Common Prayer will be received. The Cathedral will fulfil its call to be a place for important occasions. Yet every day prayers are said here for the work of the Church and for the life of our country. When senior clergy are appointed Canons in the Chapter of a Cathedral they become part of the Cathedral family. A place on the Chapter is much more than a recognition of their individual work. The clergy Chapter is a living part of the Cathedral. Their responsibility is best seen by regular attendance at special services in the Cathedral as a part of the symbolism of Cathedral witness and worship. All this means that far from being a museum St Patrick?s is a place of living worship, living reflection on the things of God ? and the focal point of a diocese at prayer.

Thanksgiving

It is therefore no wonder that the key to our worship this evening is thanksgiving. We thank God for that living atmosphere of His love for us all. We thank God for all his mercy in the past. We place our trust in Him for what is to be.