Appointment of new Canon of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork and St Colman’s Cathedral Cloyne

Posted on November 18, 2020 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, is pleased to announce that he has appointed the Reverend Denis MacCarthy, Incumbent of Bandon Union of Parishes, to be Prebendary of Kilbrittain and Holy Trinity in the Cathedral Church of Saint Fin Barre, Cork and to be Prebendary of Donoughnmore in the Cathedral Church of Saint Colman, Cloyne.

Canon Denis MacCarthy grew up in Gurranabraher on the northside of Cork City with his four sisters Diana, Ellen, Mary and Veronica. His parents were the Late Eileen and Colm Mac Carthy,

He attended the North Presentation Convent, The North Mon and Edmund Rice College.  Dún Laoghaire When he left school his first job was as a delivery boy in Erinville Maternity Hospital in Cork. In 1980 he went to Maynooth to study for the priesthood and was ordained in Christ the King, Turners Cross in 1984.

Upon leaving the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, he worked for eighteen years with early school leavers and teenagers at risk. He also worked as a Taxi Driver and was a member of Cork Taxi Co-op.

Canon MacCarthy recounts how he journeyed back into ministry:

I never thought that I would ever go back into Ministry, but having completed the Bishop’s Certificate in Theology in Cork, I felt the call begin to stir again in my soul.

Sponsored by Bishop Paul, I entered the Church of Ireland Theological College in 2004. In May of the following year I was privileged to be licensed as a Curate for Bandon Union of Parishes, where I served under Dean Nigel Dunne and the late Canon Paddy Hewitt.

In 2008, I was instituted as Rector of Mallow Union of Parishes, where as a family we spent two very happy years. On All Saints Day, 1st November 2010, I was instituted as Rector of Bandon Union of Parishes and have spent ten very happy years here so far.   

On that Sunday morning in the late eighties when I slipped quietly into the back pew of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, little did I think that it would become my spiritual home, that it would help me pick up the broken pieces of my life, refresh me and lead me back to ministry. I continue to endeavour to love God, love my neighbour and try not to make a hash of it.

Canon MacCarthy is married to Noelle Burke, and they have two daughters, Nell and Beth, who attend Bandon Grammar School. Noelle works part-time as a school nurse in the Lavanagh Centre in Beaumount in Cork.

Canon Denis MacCarthy
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Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir Launches New CD

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The current Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral building is 150 years old in 2020, although worship has been offered on the same site since 606AD when Saint Fin Barre founded his monastery.  The Cathedral was consecrated on 30th November 1870. 

Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir, in existence since 1324, composed of 40 children and 8 adults, has recorded an album of favourite anthems in celebration of this anniversary.  

The CD entitled Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, officially launched online on Sunday 15th November, includes the premiere recording of a new set of canticles, written for the anniversary by Composition Competition winner Nicholas O’Neill.  

The Cathedral’s Director of Music, Peter Stobart said:

We are pleased to be able to celebrate the Cathedral’s anniversary through the release of this CD.  We were all delighted to have a new set of canticles to sing, and we really enjoyed the challenge of learning and recording them.

Welcoming the new recording, the Dean of Cork, the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne explained that the recording was completed during the February half term break, just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic: 

This recording is the second in recent years, and it was most fortunate that our hard-working musicians, singers and choristers put in such hard work, often late into the night, to bring it to completion.  I greatly welcome the inclusion of the new setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Nicholas O’Neill, which are so wonderfully presented on the CD. I can’t wait to hear them premiered live in the Cathedral when we get past the current Coronavirus restrictions.

The CD is available from the Cathedral’s webstore: 

www.corkcathedral.webs.com/apps/webstore.  

Early ordering is advised to allow delivery in time for Christmas.

Peter Stobart, Director of Music, St Fin Barre’s  Cathedral Cork presents copies of the new Choir CD recently to (left to right) Bishop Paul Colton, Dean Nigel Dunne and Bishop Fintan Gavin.
Picture Gerard McCarthy Photography
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Bishop Paul Colton launches Book for Children and Young People to Mark the forthcoming 150th Anniversary of the Consecration of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Friday, 13th November, Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, has made available to schools, parishes and youth groups a book he wrote in recent months for children, young people and parishes to explore the 150th anniversary later this month (30th November) of the Consecration of one of Cork’s, indeed of one of Ireland’s, most iconic buildings:  Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

The book itself maybe downloaded from the Diocesan Website at: http://cork.anglican.org/our-story/sfb150/

The website also includes useful links to individual pages and worksheets, as well as photographs and other materials.  For children (and adults who do colouring too), the graphic designer, Jonathan Leahy Maharaj, has taken some of the window designs and cartoons of the Cathedral architect, William Burges, and recreated them for colouring according to the person’s own interpretation of the biblical stories they portray. Jacqui Wilkinson has created Google slides for use with the book, and also a school assembly, which alongside many other resources, are also linked to on the website.

The cover of the new book

Hard copies of the book entitled ‘Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral; resources for Children, Young People, Schools and Parishes’ will be distributed free of charge next week, having been generously sponsored by the Diocesan Education Committee.  

Launching the book this morning, Bishop Colton said:

As Bishop, I have put together this activity booklet for use in schools, children’s and youth groups and, who knows, it may get some grownups thinking as well. It is not a lesson plan or single activity programme; it is a resource of ideas which I have no doubt that teachers and those who work with children and young people in our parishes will be able to draw on, to adapt, to amplify or to simplify as necessary. Your skills in this area are greater than mine. It is up to each teacher, youth leader or children’s leader to choose or to select from the materials and suggestions that follow according to the age group they are working with.

I want to thank those who have advised me and supported me in this work:  John Ardis, Susan Colton, Nigel Dunne, Jonathan Leahy Maharaj, Alicia St Leger and Jacqui Wilkinson.

Dean Nigel Dunne said:

I am most grateful to Bishop Colton for providing this resource as part of our 150th celebrations and to all those who have contributed to it.

Whilst primarily designed for children this resource opens up a world of creativity and learning for all age groups and shares some of the amazing architecture, art and stories which we here at St Fin Barre’s are so privileged to enjoy every day.

Posted in Anniversaries, Bishop, Bishops of Cork, Book Launch, Books and Publications, Cathedral, Children's Ministry, Church History, Church of Ireland, Churches in Cork, Cork, Dean of Cork, Diocese, Education, People from Cork, People from the Diocese, Schools in the Diocese, Sesquicentenary, Youth Work | Comments Off on Bishop Paul Colton launches Book for Children and Young People to Mark the forthcoming 150th Anniversary of the Consecration of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Cork’s Bishops Dedicate Globe Candle Stand at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Saturday 7th November, the weekend when All Souls and Remembrance are observed at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, Cork’s two Bishops, Dr Paul Colton and Dr Fintan Gavin conducted a short liturgy of dedication of a new votive candle stand for use in the Cathedral’s memorial prayer space.

Bishop Fintan Gavin and Bishop Paul Colton dedicated a new candle stand at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork and lit candles to remember those who have died of Covid-19. Picture: Gerard McCarthy Photography

Originally commissioned from a manufacturer in Sweden to feature at the heart of a memorial space for the remainder of the current Decade of Centenaries, it was decided to use it at the current time to invite people to remember those who have died of Covid-19.

Bishop Colton explained:

In my journeys in the Nordic and Baltic countries I have often admired the votive candle stands in churches of the Evangelical Lutheran churches there with which the Church of Ireland is in full communion, as a result of the Porvoo Agreement. I have long thought that it would be symbolic to have such a globe-shaped candle stand here and, thanks to my good friend, Dr Johan Dalman, Bishop of Strängnäs, we were put in touch with a manufacturer in Sweden. Lighting candles on a globe is highly symbolic, not least, of our prayers in the context of this global Coronavirus Pandemic, as well as of our Christian hope in Christ, the light of the world.

The Cathedral was open to visitors for private prayer and remembrance throughout the day.

Scott Hornibrook and his grandmother Rosemary Beamish were the first to light candles during the day of private prayer at St Fin Barre’sCathedral Cork in memory of those who have died of Covid-19 Pictures Gerard McCarthy Photography

First, however, the new candle stand was dedicated in a short Service that was broadcast online on the St Fin Barre’s Cathedral webcam.

The short dedication ceremony,. introduced by the Dean fo Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, may be viewed here:

Posted in Bishop, Bishops of Cork, Blessings, Cathedral, Cork, Corona Virus, COVID-19, Dedication, Diocese, Ecumenism, Light, Liturgy, People from Cork, Porvoo Communion, Prayers, Spirituality | Comments Off on Cork’s Bishops Dedicate Globe Candle Stand at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Bishop Fintan Gavin’s First Visit to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Saturday 7th November, on the invitation of the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Most Rev. Dr Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, made his first visit as Bishop of Cork and Ross to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork.

Welcoming Bishop Gavin to the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, Dean of Cork, said he was delighted that this visit could at last take place to the site where Cork was founded and where Christian worship has been offered since the 7th Century. The Dean described the occasion – the dedication of a new votive candle stand and prayers of remembrance for those who have died of Covid-19 – as sombre, but as, nonetheless, appropriate, given its focus on shared liturgy and common prayer.

On the occasion of the first visit to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork of Bishop Fintan Gavin were (l-r) Bishop Gavin, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, and Bishop Paul Colton. Picture: Gerard McCarthy Photography

Explaining the delay in bringing about the occasion Bishop Paul Colton said:

Not long after Bishop Gavin arrived in Cork I was in hospital. Then, earlier this year, the Coronavirus Pandemic took hold. When things did quieten down over the summer months I was out of action for a number of months following an accident and subsequent surgery. But here we are!

At the start of the visit, Bishop Colton presented Bishop Gavin with a replica of the head of St Fin Barre. The heads of significant bishops from the 7th century until the time of the consecration of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in November 1870 (150 years ago this month) are carved in the Bishop’s seat (cathedra) in the Cathedral.

Presenting the replica, Bishop Colton said:

‘I welcome you, and this small gift is a token of not only our friendship but also, more important, of our common inheritance in the Christian history in this place and in the Gospel.

Bishop Paul Colton (right) presents Bishop Fintan Gavin with a replica of the carving of the head of St Fin Barre from the Bishop’s seat in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork marking Bishop Gavin’s first visit to the Cathedral as Bishop of Cork and Ross. Picture Gerard McCarthy Photography
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