Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Black Santa Time
The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann, began his Black Santa sit–out for charities on the steps of St Anne’s cathedral on 16 December. This is the 39th sit–out, and maintains a tradition established by Dean Sammy Crooks in 1976. Black Santa will be employing new technology to help raise funds this year – a credit/debit card facility will be sitting alongside his traditional barrel! This will be Dean Mann’s fifth sit–out and he will stand on the steps of St Anne’s, come rain, hail or snow, every day until Christmas Eve and will be supported by members of the Cathedral Chapter.
In Dublin, the 15th Black Santa sit–out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, was launched on 17 December by the Archbishop of Dublin and the Lord Mayor. The sit–out will continue right up until Christmas Eve. The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, joined by clerical colleagues from around the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, will remain outside the city centre church from 10am until 6pm each day collecting money for a number of charities. This year they will be joined by a record number of choirs who will sing festive songs and carols each lunchtime.
Today (Saturday) the Archbishop of Dublin and the Dean of Christ Church will be in St David’s cathedral, Pembrokeshire, for the dedication of a memorial. In the evening the Mornington Singers will present ‘Noel: a feast of beautiful Christmas carols old and new’ in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin at 8pm.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Bishop of Meath & Kildare will preach at a service from the Methodist College, Belfast, where she was a pupil, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4. After Evensong in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, there will be an organ recital by the cathedral’s organ scholar, Joseph Bradley.
In St Columb’s cathedral the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe will preside at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols while in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, there will be a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 3.15pm for which tickets are not required. In St John’s church, Sandymount, there will be a Community Carol Service by candlelight at 4pm with a collection for Focus Ireland while in St Mary’s church, Carlow, Carols by Candlelight at 7.30pm will be followed by seasonal refreshments. The Galway Civic Carol Service will be held in St Nicholas’ Collegiate church at 5pm while at 7pm the Dublin Civic Carol Service will take place in St Ann’s church, Dawson Street. The Chapel Choir of Trinity College, Dublin, will sing at the carol service in St Fintan’s church, Durrow, at 7pm while at 8pm there will be ‘Carols for the City’ in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, with seasonal refreshments and a collection for the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
In Dublin on Monday evening at 8pm there will be a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Christ Church cathedral for which tickets are not required, but the hottest ticket in town is still the Christmas Eve Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Patrick’s cathedral for which tickets are essential.
On Christmas Day, by custom, the bishops will preach in their diocesan cathedrals and the Dean of St Patrick’s will be the preacher in the national cathedral.
Church of Ireland House, in Dublin and Belfast, and the Representative Church Body Library will close on Wednesday 23 December and re–open on Monday 4 January.
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’