Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 15 November 2008
New Book by the Dean of St Patrick’s
The Dean of St Patrick’s, Dr Robert MacCarthy, has written a study of one of his predecessors, J.H. Bernard, which has just been published. This comes hard on the heels of the publication of his booklet on the diocese of Lismore in the nineteenth century which appeared as part of the Maynooth Studies in Local History, published by Four Courts Press.
John Henry Bernard, 1860-1927. A study of a leader of the southern unionists considers aspects of Bernard’s career under three main headings – churchman, statesman and provost – and draws mainly on sources in the British Library and in the Department of Manuscripts in Trinity College, Dublin. Bernard was Dean of St Patrick’s from 1902 until 1911 and wrote the history of the cathedral which appeared in the prestigious Bell’s series of cathedral histories in 1903. However, he is chiefly remembered for, uniquely, having resigned the archbishopric of Dublin to become provost of Trinity although his continued affection for the church is perhaps revealed in his Trinity portrait in which he was painted in episcopal rather than academic apparel. The Trinity portrait adorns the back cover of this attractive volume while the cover illustration is Bernard’s portrait as bishop of Ossory which hangs in the new Bishop’s House in Kilkenny.
The book has been published by Linden Publishing Services and is available in the St Patrick’s Cathedral shop at €15
Today (Saturday) the Church of Ireland Historical Society meets in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, where proceedings begin at 10.30 am. This morning (Saturday) the Monkstown Missionary Union will hold its annual sale for world needs in the Knox Hall while this evening at 8pm the Hibernian Orchestra will give a concert in Christ Church Cathedral.
Changes in recent years in the pastoral training course in the Theological College have facilitated a wide range of experiences of the church's worldwide ministry and mission. The current final year ordinands have had a truly global experience and their pastoral studies have included outreach and ecumenical projects at home and also trips abroad including New Zealand, South America and Canada. Drawing on these experiences, final year BTh ministry students will present a programme entitled 'The Call of Faith', a reflection on witness and ministry in today's world, which will be broadcast on RTE television tomorrow (Sunday) morning.
The Archbishop of Dublin will be in Belfast where he will preach in St Thomas’ Church as part of a ‘Distinguished Preachers’ series which celebrates the re-opening of the church after refurbishment. In St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, Lady Brenda Sheil, who is one of the Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod, will be in stalled as a lay canon at Evensong when Lord Eames will preach, while in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin the work of the Cancer Society will be celebrated at Evensong. There will be a Choristers Open Day in St Patrick’s Cathedral for prospective choristers and parents. Past and current choristers Evensong will be sung at 3.15 pm and all past choristers are warmly invited to attend and sing – the rehearsal begins at 2.15.
The Standing Committee of the General Synod and the Executive Committee of the Representative Church Body will meet in Church of Ireland House, Dublin, on Tuesday.
On Wednesday evening at 8pm the George Hewson Memorial Recital will be given in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. This year the recitalist will be Peter Planyavsky who is Professor of Organ and Improvisation in the University for Music and Drama in Vienna.