Press Releases02 Sep 04

Church of Ireland celebrates heritage

CHURCH OF IRELAND CELEBRATES HERITAGE

Belfry secrets, talking music, speaking stones and vergers with a gift of the gab are just some of the things the Church of Ireland is offering as part of the Europe-wide celebration of heritage starting on Monday, 6th September 2004.

Among the cathedrals opening their doors for special tours are St Fin Barre?s Cathedral, Cork; St Fachtna?s Cathedral, Rosscarbery; Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin; St Patrick?s Cathedral, Dublin and St Anne?s Cathedral, Belfast.

?The stones, stained glass and architecture of these historic cathedrals speak of thesignificance of our European heritage,? said a Church of Ireland spokesman. ?Indeed history is being recreated in St Fachtna?s through its major restoration project now underway.?

A full week of events starting on Monday, 6th September in Christ Church Cathedral, includes a talk on medieval and Victorian cathedral tiles, a tour of the belfry and a talk on the cathedral?s history by Dr Kenneth Milne, the church?s historiographer. Other talks will cover cathedral music and stained glass and vergers will conduct daily guided tours of the building.

On the heritage lecture circuit a notable venue is St Anne?s Church in Cork where Historian Michael O'Leary will give four lectures through the week (6 - 10 Sep) including one on the ?The Siege of Cork 1690?.

Useful websites for full information on Church of Ireland heritage include the following:

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin: www.cathedral.dublin.anglican.org

St Patrick?s Cathedral, Dublin: www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/news.htm

St Anne?s Cathedral, Belfast: www.belfastcathedral.org

For more general information see www.ehsni.gov.uk or www.environ.ie