A major restoration project for St Fin Barre's Cathedral has been launched by the Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Roy Warke. "St Fin Barre's Beyond 2000" seeks to raise £5 million to restore the building and to develop a 600 sq m crypt under the forecourt of the cathedral. An archaeological dig, for which sponsorship is being sought, will be a necessary precursor to the crypt development.
The cathedral, built 125 years ago in the French Gothic style, is the 11th building on the site, which is believed to have been used as a place of Christian worship for 1,400 years. The cathedral needs to be reroofed, the stained glass windows need to be releaded, and the stonework and railings need to be repaired. The crypt project aims to provide an enjoyable and informative presentation of the story of Cork.
The cathedral, with its distinctive architecture, fine liturgical tradition, and commitment to theological education, is the Church of Ireland flagship in the city and diocese of Cork, and its conservation and development ought to be a priority for the church throughout this island.
Today a sale of paintings by contemporary Irish artists, partly in aid of the restoration fund of Kilmeague parish church, Co Kildare, continues in the Friends' Meeting House, Monkstown, Co Dublin. In St George's Church, Belfast, the a.g.m. of Affirming Catholicism Ireland will be held when there will be a seminar on "Sectarianism and the Churches", with a panel of speakers including the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Rev Harold Miller. The dioceses of Cashel and Ossory will hold a Missionary Day in Kilkenny College, where the Rev Dr Ian Ellis will be the principal speaker and Andy and Pati Bowman will report on the diocesan missionary project, "Building Houses in Chile".
At 8 p.m. in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, there will be a concert of cantatas and motets by Bach. Christ Church Baroque, conducted by Mark Duley and led by Therese Timoney, will be joined by the Cathedral Choir and soloists Philip O'Carroll and Colette McGahon.
Tomorrow, RTE will televise a service with the congregation of Booterstown, Co Dublin, where the rector is the Rev Stephen Forde. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will preach the annual law sermon in Lincoln's Inn, London, while the Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Roy Warke, will visit the historic church of St Multose, Kinsale, the integrity of which is said to be threatened by a controversial adjacent development.
The Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Right Rev John Neill, will visit St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, where he will dedicate the restoration work.
In Dublin, the Feast of St Cecilia will be celebrated in Christ Church Cathedral with a Festal Evensong for the Arts while in St Patrick's Cathedral the 47th Annual Commemoration of those who lost their lives in Irish ships during the second World War will be held.
On Wednesday the Bishop of Jerusalem, the Right Rev Riah Abu El-Assai, will visit Belfast to promote the Pilgrimage 2000 programme which will encourage travellers to visit the Holy Land in the year 2000 and to support local Christian communities.
On Friday the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, will institute the Rev Robert Jones as Rector of Athlone in succession to the Rev Ivor Power, who is now Rector of Crumlin in Dublin. The Bishop of Clogher, the Right Rev Brian Hannon, will be in Bandon for the Parish Weekend which will continue the development of the newly established links between the dioceses of Cork and Clogher.