Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from the Irish Times
Mission History Conference Planned
A call for papers has been issued by the organizers of a conference on the history of Christian mission which is planned for the Renehan Hall in Maynooth on 8 November 2003.
Papers are invited which deal with the history and practice of Christian mission in Ireland and the overseas mission work of Irish organizations from the late eighteenth century to the late twentieth century. Some suggested theme are sources for mission history, oral archives and mission history, film and pictorial records, recruitment and training for mission, the competition for souls at home and abroad.
Abstracts of 100-200 words should be submitted as soon as possible to Dr Charles Flynn, Department of Modern History, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare (Mission History). It is hoped to distribute a draft programme in late September. Conference updates will be available at http://www.may.ie/missionhistory.
The conference is supported by Maynooth, Union Theological College, Kimmage Manor, the Religious Houses Heritage Association and the Association of Church Archivists. Although there is no direct link with the Church of Ireland the contribution of Anglican missionary societies in Ireland has been sufficiently significant to merit a contribution. The work of CMS and BCMS (now Crosslinks), both at home and abroad, the impact of CMJ and the Irish Church Missions within Ireland, the contribution of the Dublin University missions in Chota Nagpur and Fukien, the work of the Leprosy Mission, the Mission to Seafarers and the South American Missionary Society are all stories worth telling.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning RTÉ will broadcast a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer at which the celebrant will be the Revd Tom Gordon and the preacher Canon Ricky Rountree while, in Christ Church Cathedral, the Archbishop of Dublin will be the celebrant and preacher. In St Patrick’s Cathedral the Wells based group, Ex Collegio, will sing in the morning and Evensong will be sung by the Dowland Chorale from Surrey.
In Armagh the week long Charles Wood Summer School begins. It is named after Charles Wood (1866-1926), one of Armagh’s most famous sons whose training as a chorister in the Cathedral Choir paved the way for a musical career which culminated as Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge. The choral director is David Hill, who has been Master of Music at Westminster and Winchester cathedrals, and he will be assisted by Nigel McClintock, formerly Director of Music at St George’s, Belfast, and now at Croyden parish church, Surrey. A programme of concerts and choral services accompany the daily workshops for singers, choir trainers and organists. Details of the programme may be had by telephoning Armagh (028) (048 from RoI)37529632.
The final concert in the 23rd Festival of Music in St Barrahane’s Church, Castletownshend, will be held on Thursday evening when the RTÉ Vanburgh Quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Jane O’Leary and Hayden.
The Board of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, invites applications for the post of Lay Clerk. There are vacancies in each voice part and auditions will be held on 2 September. The Cathedral Choir sings four services in the Cathedral each week, tours abroad, makes recordings and gives radio and television broadcasts as well as concerts. Further details may be had atChrist Church Music Department
The Bishops’ Appeal, which is the Church of Ireland’s principal agency for supporting the developing world, is seeking an Education Advisor to succeed the Revd George Pitt. This is a part time post based in Dublin and details may be had from the Revd A.P. Patterson, 723 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3NU.