St Polycarp’s bells ringing proudly again
The bells of St Polycarp’s Church, Finaghy, sounded wonderful as they were rung for the first time in around three years on Sunday August 9.
The bells have been out of action as some of the wires attaching the pull hammers to the bell mechanisms were either loose or frayed and ready to snap.
The rector of St Polycarp’s, the Rev Louise Stewart, said that further inspection had revealed some of the mechanisms in the bell chamber were in need of significant repair.
“The job was not undertaken for some time as monies had to be prioritised to other more urgent areas of church life,” Louise explained. “Thanks to generous bequests given in remembrance of two long time parishioners, Mrs Sallie Kenwell and Mrs Dawn McConnell, the necessary works have recently been undertaken and the bells are once again operational and joyfully sounding out the call to worship from St Polycarp’s once more.”
Nuns’ prayers answered as replacement apples arrive
The Office of Public Works has made a delivery of apples to the sisters at the Priory of St Benedict in Cork after a large haul of their own apples were stolen.
Ten wheelbarrows full of apples were taken from their orchard on Friday night.
Yesterday the Office of Public Works delivered six boxes of apples to the nuns.
The nuns say the apples, which they use to make to make chutney, are a vital source of income for them.
The chutney is sold at the convent’s Oasis Tea Room and the money is used for the upkeep of their convent in Cobh.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East, James O’Connor, said the assistance of the OPW would help the nuns plug a funding gap.
Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy is in the news today. It was founded in 1785 as the educational institution of choice for Belfast’s Ulster-Scots elite. It is the oldest school in Belfast. Originally located at what is now Academy Street, beside Belfast Cathedral, it moved to the current Cliftonville Road site in 1880. Queen Victoria granted permission for a name change from Belfast Academy to Belfast Royal Academy in 1888. The Crombie Building (pictured) was named after Rev Dr James Crombie, the first Headmaster, who was also minister of 1st Presbyterian Church in Rosemary Street. The building was designed by the famous Ulster-Scots architect Robert Young of Young and Mackenzie, who also sat on the board of the school.
Funeral Arrangements for the Late Venerable Wayne Carney
On Friday (14th August) next there will be an afternoon vigil in St Brendan’s Church, Birr from 2.30 p.m. Numbers of people in the church will be controlled to ensure that only a limited number will be in the church at any one time.
The funeral will take place on Saturday next (15th August) at 11.a.m. in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. This will enable the live-streaming of the service which will allow Wayne’s wider family and friends to participate.
The link is www.churchservices.tv/limerickstmarys. (The link is always live, so you can test it at any time). Strict social distancing measures will apply in the Cathedral which will limit the numbers who can attend to about 50.
To control numbers clergy of the diocese (apart from some close friends) will be represented by the Dean of Limerick and the Dean of Killaloe.
The Dean of Killaloe, Very Revd. Rod Smyth will conduct the service. The preacher will be the Revd. Janet White Spunner. The Bishop will preside and participate in the service.
Cremation will take place at Shannon crematorium and a Memorial Service in Canada is being planned at a later date.
Fire damages Anglican Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand
St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin, near Otago Harbour on the south-east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, has sustained damage to its apse roof and sanctuary after a fire broke out in the cathedral roof at 3.30 am NZ time Monday 10 August.
The Dean of Dunedin Dr Tony Curtis, told Anglican Taonga that it was sad news to wake to before dawn this morning. “This was not the start to the week that I wanted. But thanks be to God no one was hurt.” he said.
Speaking outside the cathedral cordon, the Dean said that although the blaze had grim potential, once the sun came up there didn’t appear to be any structural damage.
“There are holes in the roof, and the sanctuary, main nave aisle and front pews are drenched –there’s a lot of ash and water damage. There’s going to be a lot of cleaning up to be done.”
But while the fire left a mess, it’s not anything like the fires in the cathedrals of Paris or Nantes, he said, adding: “and it’s nothing in comparison to what our brothers and sisters in Christchurch have had to deal with.”
Breaking with tradition
Rev Eileen Harrop uses extra-long chopsticks to give bread to a parishioner during Holy Communion. The vicar of St Mary’s in Gainford and St Andrew’s in Winston, Co Durham, took the step to help her stick to Covid-19 guidelines as she reopened her churches.
Pointers to prayer
God in creation
Sunset over Donegall and Lough Foyle from the Myroe Wall, Limavady.Photo by Aerial Vision
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