Innovative Music Scheme Launched in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Thursday, 5th October nearly 200 people of all ages and interests, attended the launch in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, of a new Diocesan Church Music Scheme.  The scheme was the brainchild of the Music Department of the Cathedral led by Mr Peter Stobart (Director of Music), supported by Ms Phoebe Chow (Assistant Director of Music), and the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.

Schoolchildren from St Luke’s School, Cork with the Bishop of Cork, the Dean of Cork, Ms PHoebe Chow and Mr Peter Stobart at the launch of the new Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Church Music Scheme. Photo: Sam Wynn

The three-pronged scheme, working with schools, musicians and organising events, is designed to create opportunities for improving both music and religious education through music, in the Diocese.  Launching the scheme, the scheme, the Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, quoted Bono who said ‘Music can change the world because it can change people.’

Bishop Colton said:

This new and innovative scheme, put together in an exciting way in this Cathedral at the heart of this small Diocese reaches out in an ambitious and creative way to bring about change: change in schools, in our worship, in our friendships and in the opportunities it creates for so many people to be involved in the life of the Church and the Diocese.

At the heart of the launch were the schoolchildren from St Luke’s School, Mahony’s Avenue, Cork, one of the 8 schools where Peter Stobart has already been working.  They sang ‘Laudamus Te’ from Gloria by Vivaldi, accompanied on the organ by Ms Phoebe Chow.  Everyone remarked how amazing it was that such a piece had been learnt by heart by the children in just four weeks since the start of school term.

Performing Vivaldi, conducted by Mr Peter Stobart. Photo: Sam Wynn

The proceedings were opened by the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, who welcomed everyone, and who thanked the Bishop for securing the funding for the scheme through bodies that he chairs:  the Diocesan Board of Education, and the City of Cork Church School Board, as well as Ashton School, Cork.  There are 21 Church of Ireland primary schools in Cork, Cloyne and Ross, and 3 Church of Ireland second level schools.

At the launch were (l-r) Mr Peter Stobart, Ms Phoebe Chow, the Dean of Cork, and the Bishop of Cork. Photo: Sam Wynn

Ms Phoebe Chow, the recently arrived Assistant Director of Music introduced herself and Mr Peter Stobart, Director of Music, set out in detail what the scheme is all about.

Full information about the scheme is available here: Diocesan Church Music Scheme – Information

Great excitement and anticipation at the launch. Photo: Sam Wynn

Posted in Ashton School, Bishop, Cathedral, Children's Ministry, Church in Society, Church Music, Diocese, Education, Lay Ministry, Organist, People from Cork, People from the Diocese, Schools in the Diocese, Youth Work | Tagged | Comments Off on Innovative Music Scheme Launched in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Eminent Swedish Theologian to speak at Cork, Cloyne and Ross Annual Clergy Conference

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

This year, 31st October to be precise, marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in Germany. From there the Reformation movement spread throughout Europe, including to Sweden in the 16th Century.  Today the Church of Sweden, with which the Church of Ireland has historic links, including through the Porvoo Communion of Churches, is the largest evangelical Lutheran denomination in Europe.

The Church of Ireland, like the rest of the Anglican family of churches, regards itself as an Ancient Catholic, as well as a Reformed Church.

In this 500th anniversary year, this year’s Clergy Conference in Cork, Cloyne and Ross will, appropriately, have a Lutheran visitor from the Church of Sweden, and a Reformation focus as its theme.  The speaker at this year’s Ballylickey event, will be the Reverend Dr Jan Eckerdal who is a Diocesan Chaplain with responsibility for theological training in the Diocese of Strängnäs, Church of Sweden.  Jan’s overall theme will be The Lutheran Thread of the Church Catholic.  Over the two days of the conference, he will deliver four papers.

‘”Conference” is the wrong word for this event,’ explains the Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, ‘but it’s difficult to find the right word.”

Bishop Colton continues:

Like most busy walks of life, the round of the clergyperson is busy and at times seems endless.  I see this annual event first of all as a gift from me to the clergy of the Diocese, and an opportunity for them to stop together for a couple of days. I ask them every year the sort of themes they’d like to engage with in our Continuing Ministerial Education programme. All they have to do is arrive.

It is also as much about having lots of time to spend relaxing together and getting to know one another better as colleagues in ministry, which builds up the clergy team in the Diocese, and this, in turn, is good for our work in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

There’s time for praying, eating, socialising, talking, and getting to know the person you don’t really know well.  Some go for extended walks or local visits, and one or two even play golf.

It’s all made possible by a generous bequest we received from the late Mrs Magill of Creagh Glebe near Skibbereen many years ago.  Appropriately, we keep her memory alive with a speech and a toast to her memory at our evening meal.  Each year too there is entertainment, sometimes a table quiz, and usually our renowned clergy ‘Oscars’ awards.

The Reverend Dr Jan Eckerdal

The subjects of Dr Eckerdal’s four papers this year will be:

  • Anglicanism and Swedish Lutheranism: Two Kindred Spirits?
  • Martin Luther: The Monk who changed Europe
  • Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura
  • What is a ‘Folk Church’?

Dr Jan Eckerdal has a PhD in Systematic Theology at Uppsala University. Jan’s published books and articles are especially centered on the modern ecclesiological heritage of the Church of Sweden and on missiology in a post-Christian culture. Jan lives in the small town Nyköping, south of Stockholm.  

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Full House in Bandon for the Annual Diocesan Service for Primary Schools in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The annual Diocesan Service for Primary Schools, held in St Peter’s Church, Bandon on Thursday, 28th September, was attended by nearly 600 pupils and teachers from the twenty-one primary schools in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

A ‘full house’ in St Peter’s Church Bandon for the Annual Diocesan Service for Primary Schools

The Service commenced with the ringing of the Diocesan School Bell by the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, who presided at the Service, and he led the children in the annual ‘Shout of Praise.’  Banners from every school were presented, and children from all of the schools took part.

Some of the clergy from the parishes with primary schools, together with the Bishop.

This year’s theme was ‘Celebrating our Talents’.  The sermon featured a ‘Diocesan Talent Contest’ hosted by Mr Peter Stobart, Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, and the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.  The collection was donated to the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Project to support improved maize production in Burundi, in partnership with the Anglican Church of Burundi and Christian Aid.   To a joyous cacophony of all the bells ringing together at the end of the Service, the children and teachers went back to school to continue the new school year, some stopping for picnics on the way home.

And a gallery of photos of the occasion:

Posted in Bishop, Children's Ministry, Christian Aid, Church Services, Education, Schools in the Diocese, Special Events, World Aid and Development | Comments Off on Full House in Bandon for the Annual Diocesan Service for Primary Schools in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Church of Ireland Parishioner in County Cork is First in Ireland to send Dairy Herd to Retirement in Sanctuary in England

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Jill Smith, a parishioner in the Carrigaline Union of Parishes in the Church of Ireland in Cork, decided that, after years of service and providing an income, her working dairy herd of 70 cows, who have all bonded over the years in their own unique way, deserved a life in retirement where they could continue to live as a herd together.

Jill knew she would be able to sell some of them but really wanted them to stay together. Charlies Equine Rescue in County Wexford supported her in her plan to save the herd, and began crowdfunding to raise the money to ship them to Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, England.

In just one month, supporters oversubscribed the amount required to ship the animals and cover the necessary vet fees so the surplus will be given to Hillside Sanctuary to help with the costs of keeping the cattle.

Half of the herd left Carrigaline last week, on 19th September, and the Rector of Carrigaline, the Revd Elaine Murray, was on hand to say prayers before they were loaded onto the roomy transporter to travel to their final home.

It was a very poignant moment for all involved.  According to Hillside Sanctuary, the herd bounded into the field when they arrive safely to Norfolk. The rest of the herd, together with Jill’s sheep , will be shipped at a later date.

In a BBC report, Catriona Lowry from the Equine Centre that raised the funds said:

This is historic as no Irish herd has ever left Ireland to live out their remaining years in a sanctuary …. it was a happy ending for a dairy herd who worked so hard for an owner who always had a dream that they would retire with her one day.

Posted in Contemporary Issues, Cork, Eco Congregation, Parish News, People from Cork | Comments Off on Church of Ireland Parishioner in County Cork is First in Ireland to send Dairy Herd to Retirement in Sanctuary in England

‘Sam Maguire’ has a Perpetual Home in Cork

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

As we look forward to tomorrow’s All-Ireland Football final between Mayo and Dublin we wonder who will lift high The Sam Maguire Cup.  It’s worth remembering that Sam Maguire himself was a Cork man.  This is the 90th anniversary year of Sam’s death, and the cup that bears his name was being feted in Dunmanway, County Cork last Saturday, 9th September for a very special tribute to the man himself within the community where he was born, went to school, went to church, and came home to die.

You can read all about that special event  – a community bells project of hope and reconciliation – HERE.

Here are the photos taken by photographer Andy Gibson last Saturday in Dunmanway at that historic occasion:

Posted in Anniversaries, Bells, Bishops of Cork, Church in Society, Community Involvement, Cork, Decade of Centenaries, Diocese, GAA, History, Official Opening, Special Events, Sport | Comments Off on ‘Sam Maguire’ has a Perpetual Home in Cork