Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Saturday 24 January 2015
Consecration of Bishop of Limerick
Following his election as Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert last September, Canon Kenneth Kearon will be consecrated as a bishop in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, this afternoon. The Archbishop of Dublin will officiate and the preacher will be the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan.
Canon Kearon brings to the Irish episcopate a unique set of experiences. Most Irish bishops have been curates, college chaplains and rectors, have held positions of responsibility in cathedrals or in dioceses, and have had substantial exposure to the councils of the Church. In part Canon Kearon has had these experiences having been curate in Raheny & Coolock, Dean of Residence in Trinity College, Dublin, Rector of Tullow in Co. Dublin, and a canon of Christ Church cathedral. Thereafter, however, he became Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics in 1999 and in 2005 was appointed Secretary General of the Anglican Communion and so returns to the Church of Ireland with an invaluable breadth of experience of the Anglican Church worldwide.
As Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kearon has become used to travel and as Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe travel will be again be a regular part of his work. Comprised of the historic dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh & Emly the new bishop’s area of jurisdiction is the largest in the Church of Ireland with three cathedrals, in Limerick, Killaloe and Clonfert, and sixteen groups or unions of parishes stretching from just south of Athlone to the southern most tip of Co. Kerry.
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon President Michael D. Higgins will perform the official re–opening ceremony of the Carry Centre at Holy Trinity parish, Killiney. The new centre will be blessed by the Archbishop of Dublin, whose predecessor, Dr George Simms, dedicated the original parish hall in 1958 which was re–named the Carry Hall as a tribute to the Rector of Holy Trinity, Canon Austin Carry. In the evening, at 7pm, the Bishop of Swaziland, the Rt Revd Ellinah Wamukoya, will preach at a service in St Macartin’s cathedral, Enniskillen. Bishop Ellinah’s visit to Ireland is hosted by The United Society (Us), a mission agency of the Church of Ireland which works alongside the Diocese of Swaziland. Both Rossorry parish and Enniskillen cathedral parish support the work of Us in Swaziland. At the same time in Co. Wicklow, the Bishop of Meath & Kildare will speak at a service in Nuns Cross church, Killiskey, where the music will be provided by the Unity Gospel Choir, and in Castleterra parish church, Co Cavan, at 7.30pm, there will be a Songs of Praise service at which the Bishop of Kilmore will dedicate new windows.
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon in the Dominican Church in Athy the former Dean of Cashel, Dr Philip Knowles will present a Songs of Praise service under the auspices of the Athy Lions Club. Beginning at 3pm the service will feature choirs from the churches and schools of the town. In Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, at 3.30pm, there will be a Bilingual Choral Evensong in association with Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise.
On Thursday evening at 8pm in Rathmines Town Hall, Chris Owens will give an illustrated lecture on the 1914–1919 war memorials in Holy Trinity parish church, under the auspices of the Rathmines, Ranelagh & Rathgar Historical Society.
On Tuesday 3 February the Christ Church Cathedral Past Choristers Association will hold a Table Quiz in the cathedral – details at [email protected].
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’