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St John’s, Sandymount, heritage goes online

St John’s, Sandymount, (Photo above) is taking its usual Heritage Week activities online this year with a special presentation which will make the history of the fascinating church accessible to all. To mark Heritage Week 2020, a virtual presentation entitled “St John’s Sandymount: our educational and cultural heritage” will be available from this Saturday, August 15, on the church’s website [ www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org.

Using the records of St John’s, newspaper archives and local memories, it presents people and events that contributed to the religious, educational, and cultural life of the church at the edge of Sandymount down the years. Among those with links to St John’s are distinguished clergy, teachers, artists, performers, writers and musicians.

Visit St John’s website [ www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org ] to read about:
· the unusual architecture of St John’s, its artefacts and stained-glass windows;
· the noted clerics Fr F.S. Le Fanu and Fr S.R.S. Colquhoun;
· the once-bustling life of the former Parochial Hall;
· the nearby order of religious sisters of St John the Evangelist, and the St Agnes School for Girls and School of Embroidery on St John’s Road;
· the actress Dame Sybil Thorndike and poet Sir John Betjeman;
· the career and early death of promising local actor Ivor Earle;
· the much-loved songwriter Percy French, sometime organist and Easter Week rebel Cathal Mac Dubhghaill, Gaiety Theatre Orchestra Director Bay Jellett, and Gate Theatre violinist Vera Wilkinson;
· the medical missionary Emily De Burgh Daly;
· the artists Eva and Laetitia Hamilton, Mainie Jellett, Evie Hone and Hilda Van Stockum;
· the educationalist and principal of Pembroke Technical School Ringsend C.P Coote-Cummins.

MU Trustees take a prayer walk in Lurgan

St John’s Virtual Heritage Week 2020 is presented online only, due to restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the eve of Mary Sumner Day (9 August) some of MU Down and Dromore Trustees met for a prayer walk in Lurgan Park.

“After so much rainfall during the previous number of days, we were truly blessed with warm sunshine and beautiful surroundings,” writes Rosie Teggarty.

“Our walk began with a time of reflection and prayer and then we began our stroll around various parts of the park enjoying some much-needed fellowship with one another. As we reached various locations (which Roberta had earlier sourced that morning along with Marion as they conducted the risk assessment), we stopped to read portions of scripture and pray. Roberta’s husband Gerald (our chaplain) brought along his latest toy – a drone, taking footage of us as we ambled along our way!

“At a time in our world when so much chaos is taking place, it was a time for us a group to be still, read, reflect and listen to the words of our Lord. We offered prayers for our Covid-19 situation, for the tragedy that took place in Lebanon, for the future of Mother’s Union worldwide, for the safety of our children and grandchildren, for those who supply our food, for those who care for us when we are sick and for spiritual refreshment to help nurture our faith.

“Just before we finished our morning of reflection with some light refreshments, we reflected on the work and mission of Mary Sumner. We are thankful for her witness and the way in which she has inspired so many people. We are thankful that so many people are beacons of hope for their communities. We pray that everyone will experience God’s love and that He will make this a reality.

“What a wonderful morning together. Thank you, Lord.”

Belfast Cathedral re-opens today

St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, will reopen its doors to visitors today, Friday August 14, and the Dean and his team are hoping lots of people on ‘staycation’ will take the opportunity to discover more about this historic place of worship.

The impact of lockdown on the Cathedral has been ‘catastrophic,’ Dean Stephen Forde said. It is hoped the return of visitors, along with the reintroduction of services and some events, will help the Cathedral begin to recoup some of the £250,000 operating loss projected for the end of 2020.

Next Sunday’s service, on August 16, which will mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster. Evensong will return, with a socially-distanced choir, in September.

Joseph Tomelty famous actor

Joseph was born in Portaferry, the eldest of seven children. His father was known as ‘Rollickin’ James’ for his skill on the fiddle. He left his local primary school aged 12 and was apprenticed to the trade of housepainter, his father’s trade.

He moved to Belfast and attended classes at Belfast Technical College. Tomelty first acted with St Peter’s Players and with others in 1937 and 1938 took part in discussions which led to the formation of the Northern Ireland Players on a more professional basis.

Radio plays Barnum is Right and Elopement were broadcast in December 1938 and February 1939 respectively. The Northern Ireland Players chose the stage version of Barnum is Right for their first major commercial venture at the Empire Theatre in June 1939. In 1940 the Northern Ireland Players joined forces with the Ulster Theatre and the Jewish Institute Dramatic Society to form the Group Theatre, and in 1942 Tomelty became its general manager remaining in the post until 1951.

His play, Idolatry at Innishargie, enjoyed a short run at the Group Theatre in 1942, but The End House, a controversial political play, did not even appear there. The play dealt with, what he described as ‘the inhumanity that resulted from the Special Powers Act’. It was however performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1944.

Meanwhile, his career as a character actor had rapidly developed and a successful stage and film career was underway.

In 1948 he was commissioned by the BBC in Belfast to write the weekly radio comedy drama series The McCooeys. This radio series lasted for seven years with Tomelty writing 6,000 word scripts for each episode. He continued to write plays, including his masterpiece, and a modern Irish theatre classic, All Souls’ Night in 1948. In England in 1954 he suffered a car accident and, while he recovered, he was never as productive again. Born 5 March 1911 Portaferry, County Down. Died 7 June 1995 (aged 84) Belfast

Pointers to prayer

Today we pray for the LGBTQ community. Coronavirus has provoked a mental health crisis for many LGBTQ younger people who have suffered high levels of depression and isolation during lockdown. God, we pray for your comfort and access to loving support networks.

God in creation