Bishop Paul Colton archives 1,000th Sermon Script in Church of Ireland Library

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, recently lodged his 1,000th sermon script for archiving and safekeeping in the Representative Church Body Library. The Librarian and Archivist, Dr Susan Hood was in Cork to advise the Bishop about the preparation of his archive of nearly 43 years of materials, including almost 27 as a bishop.

Dr Paul Colton handed over his 1000th scripted sermon to Dr Susan Hood during his recent visit to the Bishop’s Palace, Cork.

‘I’ve preached many more than a 1,000 sermons over the years’ said Bishop Colton ‘but these were the fully scripted ones. Obviously there were many others preached which were from notes or ex tempore as well.’

He continued:

My mother, Kay Colton, who herself had been a legal secretary, gave me a light, portable Brother typewriter when I went to Theological College and it served me well until I bought my first Amstrad computer and a printer in 1987. From the very start, beginning when Bishop Sam Poyntz licensed me as a Reader in 1981, I catalogued the sermon scripts; sorting them, as many preachers did then, in brown envelopes with the details recorded on the outside.’

As the sermons piled up at home, bit by bit, they were lodged with the RCB Library in Dublin together with a catalogue. The 1,000th  does, however, mark a milestone.

Dr Susan Hood, the Librarian and Archivist said:

It was an honour to visit Bishop Paul in his working study at the Palace recently to get a sense of where many of his ideas and working papers as Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross have evolved from. Throughout his ministry he has systematically organised his sermons (together with a digital index) and transferred them periodically to the safe-keeping of the RCB Library, where they have been accessioned as MS 731. It is a significant landmark to receive his 1,000th sermon, as preached at General Synod 2025, which we will be delighted to add to the collection.

Bishop Colton added:

I don’t know whether anyone will ever be bothered to read them but perhaps in years to come they might illustrate something of my own journey of faith, something of the journey that the Church of Ireland has been making over the last 43 years, and also because of the civic and public functions at which I have preached, there may be a little bit of the Church’s engagement with the issues of the time also from the perspective of one bishop.

Note: RCB MS 731: Sermons (1-1,000) of William Paul Colton (1960-). Curate of Lisburn-St Paul (Connor), 1984-87; Rector of Castleknock (Dublin), 1990-99); Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross, 1999.

A digital index to the sermons, created by the Rt Revd Dr Paul Colton, is also available in the Library.

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Ordination of two Deacons in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on June 23, 2025 by mediaccr

On Sunday, 22nd June 2025, Jean Taylor and Alan Howe were ordained to the Diaconate by the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. Jean will serve in Cobh and Glanmire Union of Parishes, and Alan will serve in Bandon Union of Parishes.


Pictured is The Right Rev’d Dr Paul Colton, The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross with newly ordained Deacons, Captain Alan Howe (4th from left) and Jean Taylor, (5th from right) with members of the Clergy in attendance, after the Ordination of Deacons. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Jean and Alan were both presented for ordination by their sponsors, two lay and ordained members of their respective parishes. Parishioners, family and friends from all over the Diocese, as well as Diocesan Readers and clergy came to the Cathedral to support the two ordinands on this special day.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton presided at the liturgy and Canon Elaine Murray preached. The Choristers and Lay Vicars Choral of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir sung under their Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and the Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen played the organ.

Another Ordination Service will take place on Sunday 31st August 2025, when the Rev. Eoghan Healy and the Rev. Andrew Coleman will be ordained to the Priesthood in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.


Pictured is newly ordained Deacon, Jean Taylor, after the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Ordination of Deacons by The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Jean Taylor was born in the UK and has had a varied career, working in the Civil Service as a Judges’ Clerk in the County Court and then as an Editorial Assistant at the Sunday Telegraph in Fleet Street and subsequently in Canary Wharf.

In 2004 Jean moved to Cobh and worked for Charles Daly, Solicitor. Then, from 2007 she worked at Fota Wildlife Park. During this time she qualified as a zookeeper and worked on the animal care team. She spent the last years before her retirement overseeing the Tropical house where she was responsible for the care of reptiles, fish and the sloths. One of the highlights of her career was hand rearing two cheetah cubs rejected by their mother.

Jean has been a parishioner at Christ Church, Rushbrook, Cobh since 2019 and became a Church Warden in 2022. She also worships at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

Feeling a call to Ordination she spent time in discernment and reflection and, having been encouraged by her Rector, she was accepted for training to the Ordained Local Ministry. Jean embarked on the training course at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2023. Jean is now spending her second year placement in her home parish of Cobh and Glanmire and with the support of the present Rector, the Reverend Elise Hanley, assists with services at Christ Church, Rushbrooke and St Lappan’s, Little Island.


Pictured is newly ordained Deacon, Captain Alan J. Howe, after the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Ordination of Deacons by The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Reverend Paul Colton, at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Captain Alan Howe lives near Kilbrittain. He is the second son of the late James and Violet Howe. He has four siblings; two brothers live locally and the third lives in Dublin. His sister Jane is married to Canon Patrick Harvey who is Rector of Abbeyleix and Killermogh Union of Parishes. Alan is married to Olivia (nee Travers) and they have three children – Amy and Adam are in London. Rosie and her husband Ian live near Ballylickey.

Alan is a parishioner of Bandon Union of Parishes but has close family links to both Holy Trinity, Templetrine and the Church of the Ascension in Timoleague. He went to the National School in Timoleague. He attended Bandon Grammar School and Newtown School, Waterford. He was confirmed in Waterford Cathedral by Bishop John Armstrong in 1970.

After leaving school in 1973 Alan was accepted for training as a Cadet within the Shell fleet. It was a career that was to span twenty-four years during which he attained a Certificate of Competency as Master Mariner. His first command in the fleet was in 1992. He joined Ostensjo Rederi AS in 1998, a company which provided marine services within the Port of Cork. He joined Fendercare Marine in 2002 as Berthing Master. Alan’s final career change occurred in 2007 when he joined Chevron Shipping as a Mooring Master. He worked in Nigeria and Angola and achieved the position of Senior Mooring Master before returning to the San Francisco office as Marine Superintendent, Terminal Advisor and Auditor. He retired in 2021 having completed forty-seven years of marine service.

Alan was licensed as a Diocesan Lay Reader by Bishop Robert Warke in 1998 and was recommended by the present Bishop for training for Ordained Local Ministry in 2023.

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New Learning Process for Children and Family Ministry to be rolled out in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on June 20, 2025 by mediaccr

The Children and Family Ministry Working Group in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, in dialogue with the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, have developed a Learning Process to encourage all parishes in the Diocese to reflect on their outreach, inclusion and engagement of children and families.

Children after the annual Diocesan Schools Service at St Peter’s Church, Bandon

The Learning Process was piloted in three parishes: Cobh and Glanmire Union, Fanlobbus Union, and Kinsale Union. They presented their experiences at the CCR Children and Family Ministry Gathering on 1st March, and a summary presentation on plans for the Learning Presentation was given at the clergy day conference on 3rd March.

The Learning Process is now being rolled out across the entire Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

Bishop Colton explained:

A renewed focus on children and family ministry was one of the objectives I set for my silver jubilee year as bishop in 2024. I am delighted to have had the partnership in this of both the Children and Family Ministry Group in the Diocese which is convened by the Reverend Abigail Sines, and also the Diocesan Board of Education. A lot of work went into preparing the materials and testing the process in pilot parishes. Now I encourage every parish and chaplaincy to engage with this process.

The upcoming summer offers a great opportunity to engage with families and to gather input for the learning process. This can place in a variety of ways — over a cuppa in the hall, a picnic in the church yard or an informal chat after a Sunday morning service.

All parishes in the Diocese are encouraged to complete their Learning Process portfolio by Friday, 14 November upon which they will receive a basket with family ministry resources and a framed certificate. All parishioners and visitors will be able to see the certificate displayed in the church or church hall once the parish’s participation is certified.

The convenor of the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Children and Family Ministry Group, the Reverend Abigail Sines, said:

The Learning Process is an opportunity to engage with parishioners in an intentional and creative way. It will open up a space to develop ideas for projects or initiatives to strengthen engagement with children and families.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the CCR Children and Family Ministry Working Group here.

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Couple replicating parents’ engagement on top of Shandon Tower

Posted on June 20, 2025 by mediaccr

A couple from Edinburgh, Bernadette Shannon and Joshua Rowan got engaged at the top of the Shandon tower on 17th June. The couple had flown over just that morning, and Joshua’s plan was to surprise Bernadette by proposing in the very same spot her parents, Bernard and Margaret Shannon, got engaged over 40 years ago.

The Rev. Meghan Farr, priest-in-charge at St Anne’s Church, Shandon, said:

What an honour to be the starting place for two generations of family! Blessings to you both and to your families.

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Choirs of St Mary’s Cathedral Limerick and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork sing together for Cork International Choral Festival

Posted on May 13, 2025 by mediaccr

On Sunday 4th May, the choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick travelled to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and joined forces with the resident choir to sing for both services that day. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir had travelled to Limerick in November 2024, and so this was a return visit, cementing the collaboration firmly. It was also the weekend of Cork International Choral Festival and so an appropriate time to join together and the number of visitors at the services was higher than usual. 

The choirs sang Mozart’s Missa brevis in D and the verse anthem ‘See, see the word is incarnate’ by Orlando Gibbons. The two choirs had lunch together in The Flying Enterprise and the convivial atmosphere continued there over a burger! At Evensong they sang the Canticles in A by C. V. Stanford with Mr Peter Barley from Limerick conducting and Mr Matthew Breen, Assistant Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, at the organ. The anthem was the festive Easter classic, also by Stanford, ‘Ye choirs of new Jerusalem’. 

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