Diocesan News10 Nov 10

Bishop Colton's Speech at the launch of the Appeal for St Fin Barre's Cathedral Organ (Cork, Cloyne & Ross)

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” So said one of Christianity’s great 19th Century critics --? Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. In that, at least, he and I find common ground. Nietzsche had insight into church music: his father was a Lutheran pastor near Leipzig. The sounds of the organ must surely have imbued his up--?bringing and contributed, in part, to his perspective on the centrality of music.

‘Without music, life would be a mistake.’         

On Saint Patrick’s Day in this Cathedral a number of years ago, in the midst of the campaign of this city to build the new Cork School of Music I spoke about that quest as a ‘spiritual matter.’

We look today, in straitened economic times, at the daunting challenge of a small, minority community which faithfully cares for this place for all the people of Cork, and indeed, within our national heritage, Ireland, and we need to realise that this project goes beyond routine maintenance, restoration, improvement and musical engineering. This too is a spiritual matter.

It is about art, music, community and spirituality, faith and hope – it is about the few things that have enduring power to lift our horizons when our heads are down. For Beethoven music was ‘…the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.’ It is the ‘speech of angels’ (Thomas Carlyle).

I came here as a child for my Confirmation, to scout services and to civic occasions, as well as to concerts. In time I sang in the choir, practiced my music on the organ and stood-in occasionally when help at the console was needed. I returned in 1999 as Bishop. One of the things, throughout my life and ministry that I have observed is this: when occasions in any church go well – when they hit the nail on the head; refresh the spirit, calm the wounded; bring peace to those wrestling with troubles; or when they lift our hearts in celebration and joy – when any of these occasions go well, the music is a key aspect of it. Conversely, if the music is poor, much else about the occasion can be uninspiring.

The organ is one of the largest and most historic instruments in the country. It is central to the tradition of worship and music which has been synonymous with St Fin Barre’s for so many generations. Indeed there has been a choir at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral since the medieval period, having first been mentioned in a manuscript of 1328. The rich tapestry of history that makes up St Fin Barre’s, is a part of every true Corkonian’s soul, so I am appealing to you to rise up in support of this cause.

Despite faithful maintenance of the Cathedral Organ over the years since its last rebuild in the 1960s, it has come to a point where its future reliability is uncertain. This has led to the present re--?build, which is costing €1.2 million, and we cannot do it without Cork’s support.

History shows us, I believe, that even in the most difficult times communities, churches included, do wonderful things – beautiful things – to enrich life and to energise our spirits. In our time this is one of those opportunities.

I take this opportunity to thank, and to expression admiration for ad solidarity with, the Dean, the Select Vestry, the Churchwardens, the Director of Music, the assistant organist, the Cathedral Choir and, in this instance, the organ builder – Trevor Crowe. As an aside, I note that through this project, and arising from the many other major works happening at the Cathedral at this time (you will have seen the scaffolding enveloping the entirety of the main spire) that much needed employment is being given at a time when jobs are particularly precious.

I am honoured to be here to launch the appeal and, in particular, to launch the ‘sponsor a pipe’ scheme. On behalf of my own family, I pledge our support by sponsoring now one of the longest and one of the shortest pipes. I invite the people of Cork and the people of Ireland and the friends of Cathedral music everywhere to put their names on all the 1000s of pipes in--?between!


The 19th century poet Emily Dickinson sums up for me the transforming power of music and the mighty church organ – its life--?changing potential – it touches the soul at the point of mystery in life and faith:

I've heard an Organ talk, sometime
In a Cathedral Aisle,
And understood no word it said –
Yet held my breath, the while --

And risen up -- and gone away,
A more Bernardine Girl –
Yet -- know not what was done to me
In that old Chapel Aisle.

I commend the appeal to the people of Cork and further afield and humbly ask for your generosity and support.

It gives me great pleasure now, formally to launch the Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral Organ Appeal 2010--?2012 and its ‘sponsor a pipe scheme.’