Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 25 July 2009
Bishop’s Musical Marathon
Two years ago, the Bishop of Cashel & Ossory, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, embarked on a major fund-raising endeavour by visiting every railway station in his dioceses. Not only did this benefit an excellent cause but it also allowed him to meet huge numbers of people and it gave a sense of common purpose and unity to the scattered Church of Ireland communities in the south-east.
This year he is embarking on another similar effort. As well as being interested in railways Bishop Burrows is also interested in church organs and church music and so this time he plans to visit every single church in the diocese, all 149 of them, to play whatever instrument is there and to lead people in singing a familiar hymn. Not every church has an instrument or ‘live’ music normally but if there is an ancient and little used harmonium still there he will play it and if there is nothing at all to play he will have a keyboard with him which can act as a substitute. Since it is harvest time and since thanksgiving for the harvest should also put us in mind of the needy of the world, the bishop has decided that in every church he will lead the singing of the familiar harvest hymn ‘Come, ye thankful people come’.
This exercise will begin next Thursday at 10.15am in St Kieran’s Church, Seir Kieran, where, it is reputed, the diocese of Ossory began, and conclude on Sunday 13 September in St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, where the chair of St Kieran is placed.
The monies raised will be divided among three causes. The first is a partnership between the Bishops’ Appeal and USPG Ireland (the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel is the oldest of all the Anglican mission agencies) concerned with food sustainability and agricultural training in Swaziland. The second project is to support the ministry of the former Archdeacon of Ferns, the Revd Paul Mooney, in building the ministry and outreach to English speakers of the Anglican Cathedral in Seoul, Korea. Finally, Bishop Burrows is anxious to support an Irish cause and this will be Protestant Aid, which works quietly within the Church of Ireland dealing with situations where people are under stress in regard to everything from heating costs to school books. Its readiness to respond promptly and generously in cases of need is renowned, but at the very time the demands made upon it are increasing its own investment income is in a state of huge decline, and so a contribution to its work would be most timely.
Today (Saturday) the Bishop of Tuam, Dr Richard Henderson, will institute the Ven. Gary Hastings as Rector of Galway and Kilcummin in succession to the Very Revd Patrick Towers who has retired. Archdeacon Hastings has been Rector of Aughaval, Westport, since 1995.
On Thursday evening in St Carthage’s Cathedral, Canon Paul Draper will be installed as Dean of Lismore in succession the Very Revd William Beare who has retired. A native of Belfast, Canon Draper was ordained in 1990 after education in Glasgow University and training in the Church of Ireland Theological College and served as curate of Drumragh & Mountfield in the diocese of Derry. He has been Rector of Ballydehob in the diocese of Cork since 1994.
The St Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music in Casteltownsend, Co. Cork, continues on Thursday evening with a concert by Anuna, directed by Michael McGlynn.