NEWS BRIEFS

Galway rings in a very special year

St Nicholas collegiate church in the city is to hosted a special bell-ringing ceremony last night to ring in the New Year and also to launch its programme of events for its 700th birthday. St Nicholas bells rang out for about half an hour, and were answered by the sounding of boats in Galway Port.

A team of bell-ringers was specially trained for the event

Church of Ireland Rector of Galway and Provost of Tuam, Reverend Lynda Peilow, says St Nicholas’ holds a special place in Galway so the 700th celebrations will be expansive.

Honoured by HM Queen Elizabeth

Blessington Bells ring in new community event

Carmel Cashin, Chair of Blessington & District Forum highlighted the ringing of the bells for New Year at St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Blessington.

“The community of Blessington and surrounding areas were invited to greet 2020 in a new way this New Year’s Eve” said Carmel. “Blessington Forum in conjunction with St Mary’s Church, Blessington, iencouraged everyone to ring out the old year and ring in the new one accompanied by the church’s historic bells on Main Street”.

“People were encouraged to gather in the Square Blessington at 11.45pm on where they were given tea lights.

Minister welcomes Syrian refugees to Ireland

Minister Charlie Fllannigan was at Mosney where he said “ I am pleased to welcome Syrian refugee families forced to flee their homes. Their stories are harrowing & deeply moving. Their long journey to find safety and sanctuary is now over. We offer welcome, friendship and support.”

University chaplain’s post-Christmas concern

Cheryl Meban, chaplain at Ulster University, writes, “Post-Christmas can be particularly hard for students and staff. Pray for people in the university community carrying heavy burdens, while trying to invest in their education.”

Rejection of broadband antennae on historic Clifden church appealed

An appeal has been lodged against the county council’s decision to refuse planning permission for broadband infrastructure on a historic church in Clifden. Cignal Infrastructure Ltd was refused permission to install six antennae on Christ Church in Clifden to improve local broadband and mobile coverage.

The county council said considering the historical nature of the building, allowing this development to go ahead would affect the “visual setting and integrity of the Christ Church”. That decision has now been appealed by Cignal to the higher planning authority.

Cignal had planned to attach the antennae and dishes to the outside of the church’s bell tower, with the other equipment contained inside. It was meant to provide additional broadband and telecoms coverage for eir, and one other potential broadband provider. The physical impact on the church would be “minimal and reversible” the developer said.

U is for…University College, Oxford

Today, January 1, we feature two Us: University College Oxford and their director, the singer Giles Underwood.

The Chapel Choir of University College, Oxford is a mixed choir not only of choral scholars and volunteers, but also of undergraduate and postgraduate members. The choir sings once a week during University term but rehearses twice a week in addition to the Sunday service.

They have just completed their Michaelmas term, culminating in three Advent Carol services and one Christmas Carol service. In all the music this year they have been championing, and will continue to champion, music by women. This is primarily to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the acceptance of women undergraduates to the College, but also, and more generally, because music by women has been neglected by the choral music establishment until very recently.

Over the course of the term they have sung music by Amy Beach, Kerensa Briggs, Sarah Cattley, Janette Fishell, Imogen Holst, Sasha Johnson Manning, Cecilia McDowall, Elizabeth Poston and Anna Thorvaldsdottir. Next year we will be including Judith Bingham, Claire Liddell, Sarah MacDonald, Thea Musgrave, Roxanna Panufnik, Judith Weir, Janet Wheeler and many others among that roster.

Go to FCM’s website to listen to the choir sing a setting of the mediaeval text, There is no Rose of Such Virtue.

[https://fcm.org.uk/news/u-university-college-oxford/]

God in creation