The cathedral's stained-glass windows are among the best Victorian glass in Dublin. Dating from a period before Irish stained glass came of age in the 1900s, our English glass is of a high quality and needs to be carefully maintained. We are fortunate in having a complete list of both the subjects and the artists. We are also fortunate in having just had a visitation from Dr David Lawrence who is making an inventory of stained glass in the dioceses of the Church of Ireland. Dr Lawrence has written widely on the subject and has most recently contributed an article to the current issue of Search. This is his second visit to the Dublin and Glendalough dioceses. His report will include a colour slide of each window and will tell us of its condition.
Val and his wife, Josie, moved into the cathedral group's curate's residence at the beginning of August and will be with us until the end of June 1997. Val is a priest of the Melbourne diocese in Australia and, originally from Dublin, has wanted for some time to work briefly in his native city. The dean got to know him well during his visit to Melbourne in 1994. On Sunday 8 September at Evensong Val will be given a liturgical welcome at 3.30 p.m. Evensong.
Three events in close succession will be organised by the Friends in the September-October period. An excursion to Galway was planned before the election of the new bishop of Meath and Kildare and will take place as arranged on Saturday 14 September. The journey will be by train to Galway and then s to Oughterard by bus to visit the magnificent carpet factory there. Lunch will also be in Oughterard and a visit will be made to the historic Saint Nicholas' church in Galway before the journey home.
The annual sale is this year moved to the earlier date of Saturday 5 October commencing at 10.30 a.m. The venue will once again be The Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, and we look for continued support from all our helpers. Over recent years we have clashed with so many parish sales that we hope this earlier date will encourage all our Friends to come out and be with us. All the usual stalls will be there and there is ample parking for everyone.
There are still a few places available for the main excursion of the year - to Durham - from 11-14 October. An extra day is being added this year so that we may take a boat trip to the holy island of Lindisfarne. Also included are visits to the cathedral and attendance at services. Contact David Bockett at the cathedral if your are interested in joining us.
It's not too often one can say that one is arranging the consecration service of a former curate but such will be the case when The Very Revd Dr Richard Clarke is consecrated a bishop in the Church of God on Holy Cross Day, 14 September, at 2.30 p.m. Richard was ordained for the parish of Holywood, County Down, before becoming curate-assistant of Saint Bartholomew's and Leeson Park when the dean was vicar. Subsequently he served as chaplain in Trinity College, rector of Bandon, County Cork, and, most recently, as dean of Cork. As a bishop he will bring with him that clarity of thought and theological wisdom of which he has been a firm exponent.
Despite Christ Church being cathedral of both Dublin and Glendalough, it has been customary for Glendalough to hold a liturgical welcome for each new archbishop in the county Wicklow parish of Rathdrum. This service will be a Eucharist and will be held on Wednesday 18 September at 8 p.m. All will be welcome.
"Peace" is to be the theme of the Mothers' Union Festival Evensong which will be held in the cathedral on Thursday 19 September at 8 p.m. The preacher this year is to be the archdeacon of Dublin, The Venerable Gordon Linney. We look for the usual support which this annual service deserves and usually receives.
Children's voices and the sound of musical instruments are always a marvellous feature of the annual service for primary schools. This year's service will be held on Friday 20 September at 7.30 p.m. and will be the first to be attended by our new archbishop.
Few dioceses can have a more theologically literate laity than Dublin and Glendalough. Each year in September the candidates come to the cathedral for a celebration of the Eucharist and to collect their colourful certificates. Tuesday 1 October is the day and all will be welcomed at 8 p.m. by Archbishop Empey on this his first occasion to preside at the event.
An expensive new copy of a guide to Irish buildings awaits its owner in the Chapter House. Please apply to Mr Figgis.
