On Thursday 13 March, surrounded by family and co-workers in the cathedral, Allen kept an important birthday. Since then he has intimated to the Board that he wishes to resign from the various positions he has held over many years - a board member since the early seventies and honorary treasurer since 1977. The board regretfully accepted his resignation at its meeting on Tuesday 18 March and has welcomed his offer to remain as administrator until mid-April when he plans to take a holiday for the first time in many years. At his own request, since he hopes to continue worshipping in the cathedral, he asks for no farewells or parties. He will still be among us.
Some months ago the beautifully toned bell from Saint Andrew's church was raised as far as the ringing room in the cathedral's tower. Over the Saint Patrick's weekend the bell rose one floor higher to its final resting place with the other bells. "Peace and good neighbourliness" was already engraved on the bell and soon it will ring out for the daily peace prayers and other weekday services.
Yes - there are two clock mechanisms in the tower ringing room. The younger, a recent mechanism is an electric system which has not been in use for some years and which we have been told is not capable of being repaired. The older mechanism, from the early nineteenth century, is, we are told, a superb and valuable example of a mechanical clock which should not just be preserved but fully restored. The Friends committee has been asked to examine the project for feasibility. For some 75 years this clock struck the quarters and the hours but had no faces. This lack of visual awareness might still continue as the erection of a clock face could impair the appearance of the present tower which was deliberately designed to be faceless. Is there a parable waiting to be told?
Ian Sexton, our organ scholar, also teaches music in Wesley College, Dundrum. In Cork recently, the school choir, directed by Ian, won the Inter Schools Cup in contest with all the major schools in the state. Since then, in Limerick, they have come second in the international choral competition there. Our congratulations and good wishes - to conductor, choir and school.
The parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Wantage is a name that crops up at least every other year in the annals of Christ Church. Such is this parish choir's enthusiasm for Irish visits that they have in the past wandered as far west as Killala. In this, of course, they are encouraged by their able director of music, Colin Baldy, who also lectures in music in New College, Oxford. This year, as our choir takes a Sunday off following the rigours of Holy Week and Easter - Sunday 6 April - the Wantage choir will sing the Saturday and Sunday services here. We hope they will be fit and well for they too will have had a demanding Easter schedule.
Once again Our Lady's Choral Society will commemorate the first performance of "Messiah" in Fishamble Street - on Sunday 13 April. This year, however, it is planned to begin with an ecumenical service in the cathedral at 11 a.m., ending about 11.45. It will probably take the form of a ministry of the word. After this the choral society will leave to sing while the cathedral's choir and congregation will continue the ministry of the sacrament before joining the singers in Fishamble Street.
Two years ago the Christ Church Friends had a marvellous weekend excursion to Oxford where we were welcomed by many Irish friends but especially by the newly-installed dean of Cork, Dr Michael Jackson, who was then chaplain of Christ Church (the college). The college chapel also serves as the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford. During the weekend of April 18-20 the Friends of Oxford Cathedral will pay a return visit to us in Dublin and we shall have the pleasure of showing them something of our own cathedral and city. This building of links between Friends is important in the life of our cathedral.
The electoral college for the dioceses of Cashel and Ossory will be held in the cathedral on Wednesday 23 April. The eucharist will be celebrated at 11 a.m. and the electors will begin the college at 12 noon. The usual pattern is that the needs of the dioceses are first fully examined but no names are mentioned. Then, after lunch, a process of nominations will take place and ballots will be held until one candidate reaches the prescribed majority - which is a two-thirds majority from both clergy and laity voting separately.
Readers should note that the next meeting of the society, which is jointly presided over by the deans of Armagh and Christ Church, will be held in Armagh on Saturday 3 May. The north gives a good attendance for a sometimes dreary November journey to Dublin so we hope that the south will take the opportunity of spending a spring day in county Armagh. There might even be apple blossom by then?
