The Cathedrals of the Church of Ireland are, to varying degrees, among the architectural glories of Ireland. Large and small, venerable and modern, they reflect the genius of architects, builders, carvers of stone and wood, stained-glass artists and others. Yet, in many instances, little is known about the creation of these wonderful edifices.
A marked exception to this general rule is the case of St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, the French Gothic Revival masterpiece of William Burges. Most unusually, a substantial archive of Burges' work has survived. Drawings for the building and its fittings and furnishings, cartoons for the stained-glass windows, memorial tablets and floor mosaics, and related documentation are rich sources for the understanding and appreciation of one of the most significant images of the city of Cork.
These records are the raw materials for an event in the cathedral on Tuesday evening when Mr Richard Wood, in association with the Friends of St Fin Barre's, will present "An Evening with William Burges". Some of the archives will be on display and the cathedral organist and choir will perform music from the service of dedication in 1870. Details of this event may be had by telephoning 021-2963387.
Tomorrow RTE will broadcast Morning Service from Mountmellick where the rector is the Rev Olive Donohoe. In St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the Archbishop of Dublin will be the preacher at the Boys' Brigade Parade Service while the Bishop of Cork will preside at the Sea Service in Ballycotton.
On Monday the Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert annual clergy conference will begin in Dingle and continue until Wednesday. The principal speakers will be the Bishop of Tuam and the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr John Lonergan.
In Dublin, the executive committee of the representative church body will meet on Tuesday. In Christ Church Cathedral the second in the series of lunchtime lectures on the theme "Some Archbishops of Dublin & Glendalough" will be given by Dr James Murray, assistant registrar of Dublin City University, who will speak on Archbishop George Browne (1536-1554).
Tuesday is the final day for booking a place at the "Affirming Catholicism Ireland" conference on "Sexuality, Gender and the Gospel: a Look at the Issues", to be held in the Theological College on Saturday, October 21st. The speakers will be Canon Kenneth Kearon, Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, the Rev Edmond Coulter of Reform Ireland, and the noted gay rights activist, Senator David Norris.
On Wednesday the Archbishop of Dublin will commission five new lay readers at Choral Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral. In St Mary's Church, Castlecomer, the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory will institute the Rev Tom Sherlock to the incumbency of the Castlecomer group of parishes in succession to the Rev Andrew Orr who is now Rector of Castleknock, Dublin.
The third in the "I Believe" series of talks will be given by Senator Mary Henry on Thursday in St Thomas' Church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin. At 4.00 p.m. in the Church of Ireland College of Education, the AGM of the Church Education Society will be held.
On Friday evening the Bishop of Kilmore will institute the Rev Thomas Doyle to the incumbency of the Killeshandra group of parishes. In St Macartan's Cathedral, Enniskillen, the noted biblical scholar, the Rev Alec Motyer, will speak on "Jesus and his Bible". This will be the first of a series of three talks on "Falling in Love with the Old Testament". The remaining two talks will be delivered on Saturday and Sunday, October 21st and 22nd.