Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from The Irish Times
Memories of West Wicklow
Some parts of rural Ireland have managed, despite changes in population, alterations in local perceptions and the increasingly invasive influence of the international media, to remain distinctive Church of Ireland communities. One such place is west Wicklow, essentially the parishes of Dunlavin and Donoughmore, which is the subject of the latest volume in the University College Dublin Press ?Classics of Irish History? series.
Memories of west Wicklow, 1813-1939 is a new edition of The memories of William Hanbidge, aged 93: an autobiography which was published by his daughter, Mary Ann Hanbidge in 1939. The memoir is a vivid account of the life of a protestant small farmer in west Wicklow in the 19th century, together with recollections of the 1798 rebellion. Reflections on parish and community life, Orangeism, the effects of Great Famine, education in the Kildare Place Training School in Dublin are among the topics discussed while, inevitably, the genealogical development of the Hanbidge dynasty also looms large.
Hanbidge trained as a schoolmaster and subsequently became a missionary in inner city London. He came from that evangelical tradition in the Church of Ireland which emphasized then, as it still does, the virtues of teaching, preaching and care of the vulnerable. His daughter, a successful headmistress in England, in adding to the memoir and arranging for its publication, evinced another great Christian virtue ? love of one?s parents.
The memoir has been edited by Dr W.J. McCormick, formerly Professor of Literary History at Goldsmith?s College in the University of London, who is well known for his work in the field of Anglo-Irish literature, especially his studies of Sheridan Le Fanu and J. M. Synge. At Euro17 this small format paperback would be a welcome Christmas present for those interested in the history of the locality.
Tomorrow (Sunday) at 3.15 pm in St Patrick?s Cathedral, Dublin, there will be a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for which tickets are not required. There will be a new seasonal initiative in Enniskerry where at 5 pm there will be an Open Air Community Carol Service with the parish choirs of Powerscourt, Curtlestown and Enniskerry and the Enniskerry Gospel Choir. The Bishop of Cork, the Rt Revd Paul Colton, will preside at Carol Services in St Fin Barre?s Cathedral, Cork, and St Colman?s Cathedral, Cloyne, and on Wednesday in St Fachtna?s Cathedral, Ross.
On Monday there will be a meeting of the House of Bishops and at 8 pm, in Christ Church Cathedral, the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the Diocesan Carol Service. All tickets for this service have been allocated but there will be some unreserved seats available on a ?first come, first served? basis.
The Girls? Choirs of Christ Church and St Patrick?s Cathedrals will combine to sing Evensong in St Patrick?s on Wednesday when the setting will be Mathias? The Jesus College Service.
On Christmas Eve there will be a Concert of Carols in St Iberius? Church, Wexford, which will mark the end of a four day fast for charity by the Rector of Wexford, the Revd Maria Jansson, and the Administrator of Rowe Church Roman Catholic Church, Fr Jim Fegan, while in St Nicholas? Collegiate Church, Galway, there will be carols around the Christmas tree for families and shoppers. At 4 pm in St Patrick?s Cathedral, Dublin, there will be the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which for many Dubliners is one of the vital prerequisites for Christmas. Admission to this service will be by ticket only but it will be broadcast live on RTÉ radio.
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