Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from The Irish Times
Saturday 5 November 2005
New Book on Women in Dublin
The importance of women in the Church of Ireland in the twentieth century is not in doubt, at least from the comforting perspective of hindsight, but the Church has been slow to articulate this. An important new book by the Aberdeen based historian, Oonagh Walsh, has splendidly remedied this lacuna, at least for women in Dublin.
Anglican Women in Dublin: philanthropy, politics and education in the early twentieth century, published by UCD Press at £42 and £18.95, is a substantial study of women in the Church of Ireland in Dublin at a time of upheaval in Irish society when traditional roles were challenged and fresh expectations emerged. The book does not seek to deal with the totality of the experience of Church of Ireland women but concentrates on important aspects. The significance of Dublin as a centre of activity is assessed and economic, social, religious and political positions established. Consideration is given to education and training, highlighting the roles of, for example, Alexandra College and Trinity. Charitable endeavour and missionary work are also examined.
Many familiar names occur ? Kathleen Lynn, Thekla Beere, the Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, Maud Gonne and Alice Stopford Green ? as do institutions ? the Mothers? Union, Prison Gate Mission, Clergy Widows and Orphans Society and the Dublin University Mission. Such names hint only at the riches to be uncovered in this book both for Church of Ireland readers and those wishing to learn of the immense contribution which Anglican women made not only to their Church and the city of Dublin but to Irish society at large.
A publication of a different genre will be launched in Church of Ireland House, Dublin, on Tuesday afternoon. Maritime Mission: history, developments, a new perspective, published by Boekencentrum in the Netherlands, has been written by the Rector of New Ross, the Ven. Paul Mooney, who is the Hon. Secretary to the Mission of Seafarers in Ireland. This is a study of maritime mission since 1945, one of the least explored areas in the field of mission and ministry and one, which given the effects of globalization is likely to be at the cutting edge of issues of justice, ecumenism and relationships with other faiths. Details of the book may be had at www.boekcentrum.ni.
Today (Saturday) a series of lunchtime recitals begins in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 1.15pm. The initial recital, which will be given by Tristan Russcher, assistant organist in Christ Church, will last for approximately thirty minutes.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the annual Citizenship Service will take place in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 3.30 pm, where the preacher will be the Bishop of Killaloe, the Most Revd Willie Walsh. The service will have an ecumenical dimension and next year will be in St Mary?s Pro-Cathedral. In St Patrick?s Cathedral, at Evensong, the annual Huguenot Commemoration Service will be held at which the preacher will be the dean. In St Iberius? Church, Wexford, at 11 am, there will be a Songs of Praise Service with the Loch Garman Brass Band. In St Mathew?s church, Shankill Road, Belfast, the centenary of the Mother?s Union will be celebrated, where the preacher will be the Very Revd J.F.A. Bond.
On Tuesday a new series of lunchtime history lectures begins in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 1.15 pm. The theme for the series is ?Aspects of Dublin Parish Life? and the first lecture on ?The Parishes of St Catherine and St James in the 17th Century? will be given by Professor Raymond Gillespie, NUI Maynooth.
On Thursday at St Patrick?s Deanery the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, will launch a new brochure: ?Christmas at St Patrick?s, outlining cathedral Christmas events.