The afternoon was hot and heavy, not a cloud in the sky, as some seven hundred people flocked into the cathedral, led by President Mary Robinson, Lord Mayor Sean Dublin-Bay-Rockall Loftus, the Apostolic Nuncio, and the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and of Canada. Representatives from the other churches included Archbishop Desmond Connell, Fr Ireneu (Greek Orthodox), the Revds Mary Hunter (Presbyterian), Tom Kingston (Methodist), Paul Fritz (Lutheran) and Major David Gauton (Salvation Army). Inside the building the thick stone walls kept the temperature pleasantly cool for a ceremony that was to enfold medieval custom with contemporary liturgy.
At 4 o'clock three immense thuds on the west door shattered the silence. The slightly embarrassed silence which a large number of people always feel when waiting for an event was relieved by a ripple of light laughter and the great west door was opened for the first enthronement in many years. The archbishop entered asking that he be seated in his episcopal chair. During the processional hymn the scene moved forwards to the screen where the actin registrar, the Revd Paul Colton, read the mandate.
The archbishop, requesting that prayer might be made for him, was brought to kneel before the high altar. After biddings from the precentor, Canon Bartlett, the whole congregation kept silence as the choir sang Rheinberger's superb eight-part Kyrie eleison. The chancellor, Canon Marshall, then held the book of the gospels before the archbishop who made his declarations and was then seared in the episcopal chair by the dean. Te Deum Laudamus was sung to the setting in B Flat by Charles Villiers Stanford (who received his early musical education in Christ Church) and the archbishop was presented to the people at the entrance to the quire.
As chief celebrant of the sacraments in the diocese the archbishop was presented with gifts representative of this ministry: the water of baptism and the bread and wine of the eucharist (by nephews Mark and Stephen Empey), the holy oil (by Stella Mew) and a chalice and paten (by Terence Read). The peace was proclaimed and shared and a liturgy of the word followed. Lessons were read by Susan Philips (Wicklow County Council) and Claire Wheeler (Dublin City Council); the gospel was read by the archbishop who then preached the sermon. The prayers for church and state were led by the archbishop who, after receiving the primatial cross from the treasurer, Canon Bertram, gave the blessing on the congregation, the city and the dioceses.
An enormous amount of work goes into the organising of such an event. In the cathedral: Allen Figgis and Carmel McCann for solving the administrative nightmare that such an occasion is; Mark Duley, Andrew Johnstone, Ian Mackrell and the cathedral choir for the wonderful music; Leslie Taylor and his bellringers for peals before and after; vergers Freddie McKeown and Barry Farrell; and all others on the cathedral team.
The atrium of the civic offices formed a magnificent arena for the reception afterwards. This was freely and willingly given us by the corporation through its administrator, Mr. Sands. Thanks must also be given to the corporation for the magnificent display of flowers in the cathedral grounds and for the flowers at the platform in the civic offices. Throughout the year Jimmy Doherty (the parks department supervisor) and all his assistants do trojan work at the cathedral grounds which are listed as a public parks for visitors.
The is enthronement of Archbishop Empey will be a day long to be remembered in the equally long annals of Christ Church.
Many Friends will not realise the immense pressure on space that exists in the Christ Church of the late 1990s: two choirs (adult and girls) now occupy the Music Room; the Chapter Room is sill incomplete after having its timber floor replace; the crypt is in the process of having its pot-holes repaired. For this reason the annual Salmon and Strawberry luncheon cannot be held in the cathedral and the alternative venue, McKee Barracks (very kindly granted) can cope with just under sixty pressure. Mrs. Drew has been under immense pressure for tickets but simply had to allocate them as booked. We realise there are many disappointed people. Next year the crypt, or some alternative space, may give us a venue for our normal numbers. Bear with us.
Trinity Sunday gave us the pleasure of listening to the Very Revd Dr Richard Clarke preaching at both the Sung Eucharist and Evensong. Little did we think that only five days later, at the Meath and Kildare Electoral College held in the cathedral, he would be elected as bishop in succession to Archbishop Empey. We offer him our congratulations and look forward to his consecration here in Christ Church on Saturday 14 September at 2.30 p.m.
A telephone call from the Revd Rupert Moreton assures us that he is well and truly settled into his Spanish ministry but might, in the future, be willing to consider the call of an Irish parish which provides a swimming pool for its rector! All good wishes, Rupert.
The Chapter recently held its bi-annual meeting when members were given an unusual tour of the cathedral roofs - both exterior and interior above the wonderful stone vault of the nave and transepts - by the cathedral architect Paul Arnold.
