Press Releases04 Dec 13

New ‘Illustrated History of the Church of Ireland’ book launched

A landmark new book entitled ‘The Church of Ireland – An Illustrated History’ published by Booklink was launched by The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in St Anne’s Cathedral last night, Tuesday 3rd December 2013. The guest speaker at the event was Professor Brian Walker (QUB) who was a consultant editor of the new book. (Pictured above: Archbishop Richard Clarke, Prof Brian Walker, Dr Claude Costecalde, publisher, at the launch in St Anne’s Cathedral)

Archbishop Clarke commended and congratulated all who had contributed to the beautiful and comprehensive multi–authored new publication, while Professor Walker described some of the very many fascinating Church of Ireland figures from the past such as Swift and Berkeley to more recent times such as C.S. Lewis and Bishop MacNeice; he also paid tribute to the publisher Dr Claude Costecalde and the designer, Wendy Dunbar who have created ‘a superbly produced, colourful and comprehensive’ volume.

The new 400–page book is produced in hardback and full–colour. The Archbishop of Armagh and Archbishop of Dublin state in their foreword to it: ‘This volume comprises the work of over sixty historians, editors and photographers from all over Ireland with a diverse range of interests and approaches. Each tells the story of the Church in his or her own way and the variety of this material reflects the diversity within the Church of Ireland itself … This book achieves the remarkable task of covering every parish or union/group of parishes, with illustrations of over two thirds of all the churches.’

Dr Claude Costecalde, says: ‘Informed and inspired by the past, the Church of Ireland looks forward with confidence and eager expectation to the future. This illustrated book presents its rich heritage and history in an attractive contemporary style that will appeal to every generation. It reveals at the same time the modern presence of the Church in every diocese. The Church of Ireland – An Illustrated History is a record of the past with an invitation to reflect on the life of the Church in the twenty–first century.’

The book will also be launched in Dublin by The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, and Archbishop Richard Clarke, on Thursday 5th December at Church House, Rathmines, Dublin 6 at 7.00pm.

The book is available to buy from The Good Book Shop, Church House, Belfast.

Contact details for the publisher are: Dr Claude Costecalde: [email protected], T: +44 (0) 7403781529

(Photo at top: Paul Harron/Church of Ireland Press Office)