Bishop Paul Colton makes site visit to the Carraig Centre, Ballincollig

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Wednesday 5th February, the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton visited the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig, Cork which is currently under development by Clancy Construction.   The Bishop was shown around by project team lead Bill Lane, youth worker Matt Gould and associate minister, the Reverend Robert Ferris.

Bishop Colton with Bill Lane and the Reverend Robert Ferris outside the main entrance of the new Carraig Centre.

The building, empty for many years, will have a new lease of life as a community and parish centre in Ballincollig. The Carraig Centre aims to offer people of all ages, different faiths and none, many diverse opportunities to experience belonging and hope in Ballincollig.  In 2016, Ballincollig was the largest town in County Cork but, recently, with the alteration of the City boundaries it is now a populous suburban area in Cork City.

Bishop Colton said:

Since my arrival as Bishop in 1999 I have been conscious of the faithful ministry and outreach for many years of the Parish of Carrigrohane Union in the town of  Ballincollig, but I’ve also been concerned that the town grew and grew where the Church of Ireland had no structural presence or base.  This is a thrilling and visionary initiative by this Parish which I, as Bishop, and the Diocese, are delighted to support.  It’s also a sign that small parishes and small dioceses can do big things for God. Huge credit is due to everyone who has held onto this vision and worked towards it.

The Carraig Centre will house community and parish activities. Meeting and event spaces will be available to rent by community groups.

The group showed the Bishop the various spaces – a 200 seat auditorium, play area, outside spaces including playground, garden and ball playing area, prayer room, kitchen, staff offices, meeting areas and a recording studio.

The Carraig Centre under development.

The Carraig Centre will also host an informal Christian worship service on Sunday mornings. Matt Gould, youth worker at Carrigrohane Union of Parishes, said:

Our SundayAM gatherings let us hear and respond to the Christian gospel, develop our faith, and invite friends to consider the good news of Jesus.

Cian Jenkinson, a recent graduate of Gaelcholáiste Choilm, remarked that ‘the SundayAM meetings demonstrate that church can be fun.’ A strong focus on young people will be an important element of The Carraig Centre’s operation, building on over 10 years of successful youth work in the union’s existing premises.

Canon Ian Jonas, the rector of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Cork explained the name for the new centre:

‘Carraig’ nods to the parish’s roots in Carrigrohane, but more importantly it emphasises that Christians build their hope, faith, and lives on Christ, who is our solid rock.

The Carraig Centre under development.

It is expected that construction will be complete by the end of February and and the opening in late spring, early summer.

The members of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes look forward to welcoming their friends and neighbours to The Carraig Centre.

Bishop Paul will return later this year to officially open the building: The Carraig Centre.

Youth worker, Matt Gould, chats with the Bishop in the main auditorium of The Carraig Centre.

Posted in Bishop, Charting A Future With Confidence, Children's Ministry, Church in Society, Church of Ireland, Community Involvement, Diocese, Five Marks of Mission, Fresh Expressions, In the News, Lay Ministry, Parish News, People from Cork, People from the Diocese, Pioneer Ministry, Worship, Youth Work | Comments Off on Bishop Paul Colton makes site visit to the Carraig Centre, Ballincollig

Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork Explores Post-Brexit Links with Lichfield Diocese in England

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in the Church of Ireland, is actively pursuing a new link with the Lichfield Diocese in the Church of England in order to foster close relations following Brexit.

In November last year, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, welcomed the Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave, to Cork to explore the potential for further links between the two dioceses.

Bishop Colton and Bishop Ipgrave have issued the following joint statement today:

Our two dioceses are actively exploring the possibilities of exchange and a deepening of relationships not only in the context of our common membership of the Anglican Communion of Churches, but also against the backdrop of Brexit. In these days following Brexit and as the relationships between peoples on these islands unfolds anew, we believe it is important to think not only of commerce and trade, but also of what it means, in the broadest sense, to be good neighbours in this part of the world.

Brexit was not a vote to leave Europe; it is about leaving the European Union. We are part of a larger family of Christians and we can encourage one other by learning from each other and enriching one another’s life. We will look at specific and tangible ways we can do this across our two dioceses in the coming months as our link develops.

The United Dioceses of  Cork Cloyne and Ross, has been nurturing connections in recent years also with the Diocese of Porvoo in the Church of Finland, with the Diocese of Strängnäs in the Church of Sweden, and has also been approached to explore deeper contact with the Diocese of Easton in The Episcopal Church (USA).

The Diocese of Lichfield already has a partnership link with the Nordkirche Lutheran Church in Northern Germany who on Friday (31 January) reaffirmed their commitment to that link in the wake of Brexit.

Clergy and lay people of the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross following a lunch hosted by Dr Paul Colton for the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Michael Ipgrave.

Posted in Anglicanism, Announcements, Bishop, BREXIT, Contemporary Issues, Five Marks of Mission, Ireland, Links, Partnership | Comments Off on Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork Explores Post-Brexit Links with Lichfield Diocese in England

Youth of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Share their Video at Church of Ireland Youth Forum

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Five young people from Cork, Cloyne and Ross joined Diocesan Youth Officer, Hilda Connolly, at the third and final of the Church of Ireland’s Youth Forum meetings on 25th January, in City North Hotel in Dublin.  The young people were from the parishes of Mallow, Carrigaline, Kilgariffe, Fanlobbus and Rosscarbery.

Before the Forum, each Diocese was asked to produce and submit a video focusing on “What young people want from the church?”

The young people from Cork rose to the challenge and put a great piece together.  Here it is:

The Forum was organized by the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) and was facilitated by Nic and Sally Sheppard of Church Army.  Simon Henry, Steve Grasham and Barbara Swann from CIYD always put a lot of work into this event.

This year Bishop Storey, who is chairperson for CIYD, opened the day with a passage from Galatians chapter 2 vs 20: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”  She encouraged everyone to live their best life.

The theme for the day was Ministry and Mission and was made up of debates, icebreakers, discussions and activities.

Some questions that were put to the group were “Where and how did Jesus minister to people?” and “What were the key elements of the ministry of Jesus?”. Plus many many more discussion type questions.  The groups were then asked to look at some examples which they personally find teaches them something about the way they live their lives and how they should be with other people.

The day closed with Steve Grasham leading worship.

Even though it was initially a 3 year project, the Cork group are very disappointed that it is over!  They absolutely loved attending this yearly event and made the most out of each year.

It is a great event to bring some of the youth from all the dioceses together to not just be part of the learning and the teachings of the day but to encourage the teens to meet people outside of their own areas and to build connections.

Fingers-crossed CIYD will continue on with something along the same lines for next year!

 

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Cork Parish Hosts Concert in Aid of Cork Penny Dinners

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Recently, the Church of St Mary and All Saints’, Glanmire, County Cork, hosted the second concert of its annual Winter Concert Series.

The concert was well attended and a retiring collection was taken in aid of of one of Cork’s oldest charities: Cork Penny Dinners. An AMAZING €1383.60 was raised

The audience were treated to a wealth of local talent, including the choir of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Riverstown, the Carrigtwohill Folk Choir, and students from the Cork ETB School of Music.

The Rector of Cobh & Glanmire Union of Parishes, The Revd Paul Arbuthnot, commented:

It was a delight to welcome the rich variety of local talent to St Mary & All Saints’, Glanmire. The Winter Concert Series raises much money for local charities, and we wished to help and affirm the wonderful  work of Cork Penny Dinners. Their work is especially valuable as we are in the midst of a shameful housing and homelessness crisis in Cork at this time.

Concert in the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints, Glanmire, County Cork.

Posted in Charity Work, Church in Society, Churches in Cork, Community Involvement, Concert, Contemporary Issues, Five Marks of Mission | Comments Off on Cork Parish Hosts Concert in Aid of Cork Penny Dinners

A Holiday Home in West Cork for Clergy or Readers in Return for Sunday Duty

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Some of the parish churches on the coast of our Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross are only open in the summer months, mainly to cater for the upsurge of summer residents and tourists in this popular holiday area.

Would you like a holiday home in some of the most sought after locations along the southern part of the Wild Atlantic Way, in return for taking Services on a Sunday while you are with us?

This offer is open to clergy and licensed readers of the Church of Ireland, or of Anglican/Episcopal Churches in communion with the Church of Ireland, who are in good standing in their own diocese.

This year there is a choice of two houses in two locations:

Baltimore, County Cork

Baltimore, County Cork ~ the original Baltimore

Schull, County Cork

Schull Harbour, County Cork

For more information read on!

Baltimore, County Cork

The small resident Church of Ireland population is swelled in the summer months by many tourists, day-trippers and people who have holiday homes or boats in the area.

Baltimore is a fishing, sailing and holiday village in the southernmost parish of Ireland, and is the ferry port gateway to Cape Clear Island (and the Gaeltacht), Sherkin Island, and the eastern part of Roaring Water Bay with Carbery’s One Hundred Isles.

The world famous Fastnet Rock and lighthouse off the south coast – known in Irish as Carraig Aonair – the lonely rock, and known also as ‘Ireland’s teardrop’ – the last piece of Irish soil seen by emigrating Irish.

It is a lively place to have a distinctively Irish holiday in a much sought after location.  The small cottage, known as Tullagh Lodge, is beside the Church of Saint Matthew.  It is only 150-200 metres from the ferry port, the pub, shops, restaurants, as well as the busy holiday life of the village.  In the hinterland are many walks, including to the famous Baltimore Beacon, and at Lough Hyne, Ireland’s first marine nature reserve.  The nearest large town is Skibbereen, and this location is an ideal base for touring also in West Cork as a whole.  It  is about 90 minutes drive from Cork City.

Tullagh Lodge beside the Church of Saint Matthew, Baltimore.

The cottage consists of a main living room with kitchen to the left of the front door. There is a stable type outer door, which means safety for children, yet allowing light and air into the house. A small hallway with bathroom (shower, toilet, sink) leads into the main bedroom (double bed). On the right of the hallway is a small bunk-room, which sleeps two.  There is also a double sofa bed in the living area.

For more information about taking up this offer please contact the rector of the Parish, the Reverend John Ardis EMail click here

Schull, County Cork

Schull is in the Parish of Kilmoe Union which is the entire western part of the famous Mizen Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way. In the summer, Schull is also a hive of activity.

The Parish is located in the extreme South West of Ireland on the Mizen peninsula, centred on the the beautiful seaside village of Schull. Schull and Crookhaven are popular harbours for those who love sailing. There are lovely beaches at Ballyrisode and Barleycove for swimming and surfing.

The Mizen Peninsula is also a haven for walkers, hikers, photographers, historians and those who simply wish to rest, read, write, and find peace in the rugged beauty. There are excellent seafood restaurants in the area along with simpler fare in the many local pubs, all within walking distance.

The seaside village of Crookhaven, County Cork on the Mizen Peninsula.

The house for duty is a two storey house in Schull village overlooking the magnificent harbour. The house, which is suitable for a family, has recently been extensively modernised and refurbished to a very high standard. There is a large open-plan sitting room and dining area with a fully equipped kitchen and sun room downstairs overlooking the harbour, while upstairs there three bedrooms and a bathroom.  Schull is also approximately 90 minutes drive from Cork City.

Schull Holiday Home

For more information about this offer please contact Canon Paul Willoughby Email: click here

Come and visit us this summer in beautiful West Cork!

Beautiful Baltimore in West Cork, Ireland

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