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SEPTEMBER 2008 - NEWS CONTINUED

THE DEAN’S ENGAGEMENTS
The Dean represented the Bishop of Connor at the Somme Anniversary Act of Remembrance at the City Hall. The Dean and Mrs McKelvey attended a memorial concert to the late Dean of Christ Church, Dublin, the Very Reverend Desmond Harman, and the service of consecration of Bishop Trevor Williams, also in Christ Church. Bishop Edward and Patricia celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a renewal of marriage vows and eucharist in Killyleagh Parish Church. The Dean and Roberta were delighted to be present and to enjoy the hospitality afterwards. Patricia’s father was Rector of Killyleagh.

US PRIEST RETURNS TO HER CATHEDRAL ROOTS
The Very Reverend Penelope Bridges who will sing at the Choral Eucharist and Evensong on September 14, serves as Rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, Virginia, USA, and as Dean of Region Five of the Diocese of Virginia. Penny grew up in Belfast, the youngest daughter of Gibby and Joan FitzGibbon. Her father served as a lay reader at the Cathedral. Penny remembers sitting in the front row of seats on Sunday mornings and intensely envying the boys who were allowed to sing in the choir.

She was baptised at the Cathedral in 1958 and attended services and Sunday School regularly until the early deaths of her parents in the 1970's and her subsequent move to Wells Cathedral School in England, where she studied viola and languages.

Penny was admitted as a choral exhibitioner to Clare College, Cambridge, and went on to a 15-year career as a computer programmer in England and the USA, before answering the call to be ordained in the Episcopal Church of the United States. She gained a divinity degree, summa cum lauda, from Yale Divinity School in 1997 and served as Assistant Rector at Grace Church, Alexandria, Virginia, until 2003, when she was called to serve St. Francis, which is just 20 miles from the centre of Washington, DC.

She works with a thriving congregation of young families and oversees a staff of eight, including a full-time assistant priest and two musicians. Last spring the church partnered with the Washington Revels theatre troupe and other churches to perform a fully staged production of Benjamin Britten's children's opera, "Noye's Fludde". Penny had seen a production of the opera at Methody in 1961 and this year's production was the culmination of a lifelong dream. She auditioned successfully for the off-stage, spoken role of the Voice of God.

Penny has also served recently on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia, an elected council of advice to the Bishop, and serves on the Ecclesiastical Trial Court of the diocese. She plays viola in the McLean Orchestra.

Penny is currently enjoying a four-month sabbatical leave from St. Francis. The theme of her sabbatical is "Singing the Lord's Song in Communities of Faith" and includes visits to Iona, Durham, Cambridge, Wells and of course St. Anne's, a true homecoming. The sabbatical is generously funded by the Lilly Endowment.

Penny's husband, Steve, works in the information technology industry in the Washington area, and their two sons attend James Madison University in Virginia. In a comment to the Dean, Penny said, “I spent the first 13 years of my life sitting in the front seats envying the boy trebles because they were allowed to sing in the choir and I wasn't. It would be a great gift to be able to sing in the Cathedral as a priest.”

Penny’s brother Gibbon was a well-known President of the Students’ Union at Queens and is married to Jennifer nee Briggs whose family were members of Dunmurry Parish where the Dean served as curate. Another link is Canon Maralyn Adams of Christ Church, Oxford with whom the Dean and Mrs McKelvey stayed post-Easter. Maralyn was Jenny’s tutor at Yale Divinity School. That’s Anglicanism for you - not so much doctrine but friendships old, new and renewed.

CHORAL WORKSHOP
On Saturday 20th September, members of the Cathedral Choir will take part in a workshop day with John Rutter. The event has been organised by the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters, whose current President is our Director of Music. The event, which is now fully booked, will be held in the Great Hall of Campbell College, and bring together four hundred singers to work with this highly regarded and well known contemporary church music composer.

John Rutter composed "Behold, the tabernacle of God" on the occasion of the consecration of the North Transept of the Cathedral. In 1973 on St Andrew's Day, John Joubert also set the same text on the occasion of the consecration of the Cathedral's South Transept and Chapel of Unity.

THE STEWARDS’ TALE
Once in a while our Stewards meet characters with stories. Des McIntyre and Vernon Clegg heard a remarkable one when two ladies asked about the old Parish Church.

One of the ladies, now living in England, had returned from a lifetime in Australia and was catching up on her family history. Her story started in the 1850's when her great-great-grandfather was a boy whose parents had both died before he was 10.

Brought up by an uncle with whom he didn't get along, he decided to go to Sydney to be with his elder sister, already there. The first stage of his journey took him to Dublin from where he hoped to get to Liverpool. To get the fare, he exchanged his expensive clothes for those of a paperboy. He then joined a ship as cabin boy in Liverpool and reached Melbourne.

The Captain, who offered to keep him on the crew, saw that he was determined to get to Sydney and arranged for his onward passage there. when the boy landed in Sydney he was sitting at the dockside and people walked past him. Then one man came up to him and asked if he could help. The boy said he was looking for his sister and by coincidence this man happened to be his sister's husband. He then brought the boy home to his sister who told him he could not possibly be her brother as he had been drowned in the Liffey. It seems that the paperboy who had subsequently been drowned in the Liffey could only be identified by his clothes!

CHAPTER
The death occurred of the Reverend Desmond McCreery a former Canon and Board member. Canon McCreery had served in several parishes including being Rector of Knockbreda and then Bangor from which he retired. A man of firm evangelical conviction, he was not narrow in his interests as his involvement with Dungannon Rugby Club would indicate. His friendliness and sense of humour were gainsome. This Cathedral has lost one who served it well during his ministry and which retained his affection and prayerful support in his retirement. The sympathy of the Cathedral Community has been expressed to Mrs McCreery and the family by the Dean.

Mrs Jo Mercer, wife of Canon Jack Mercer, has died. Jo gave magnificent service to the church through the Mothers’ Union, and through her support of her husband’s ministry in parishes and other areas of influence. She was always cheerful and good company to meet with. Again, the sympathy of this community was expressed to Canon Mercer by the Dean.

BOARD BUSINESS
During the summer months the Dean and the Board’s Officers have continued to meet to progress business. Much of this is by its nature routine but essential.

The new edition of Safeguarding Trust - the C of I’s code for child protection - was reviewed to ensure that Cathedral handbooks and practice were fully compliant. An attempt is being made to increase the number of Chorister Supervisors.

A first response course (first-aid) has been organised for the staff.

A list of essential building maintenance has been noted. A review of plans for a columbarium is underway. A major report on the cathedral organ is being considered.

SEXTONS
Billy Scott, a member of our team of sextons has retired. We thank him again for his service and wish him and Mrs Scott and family many happy years ahead.

Peter Hoskins has been serving as voluntary sexton for the summer months.

Lorraine and her team have the Cathedral looking exceptionally well at present and it is good to hear positive comments about the cleanliness of the building and furniture. This too conveys a substantial message to the visitor and pilgrim like.

VERGERS TEAM
There is a need to increase our team of vergers who play such a key role in the organisation of our worship and particularly when services are being hosted for organisations and community groups. This role is open to people of all ages and it is not necessarily a weekly commitment. If you would like to know more, please contact either Gareth or Cannon Close.

PAST CHORISTERS
The Annual Dinner will be held on Friday 28th November in the Ulster Reform Club and the Past Choristers’ Evensong on Sunday 23rd November at 3.30 pm. The Chairman is Vernon Clegg and the Hon Secretary, Gareth Clifford:
Tel: 028 9036 9189 E-mail: gareth@gclifford.wanadoo.co.uk

CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY
• Graham Harvey's grandson Ben arrived in fine order.

• Claire Bampton (nee Callender) graduated in medicine at Leicester on July 11.

• Several members of our community have been coping with difficult times health wise - Paddy Johnston, Muriel Law, and Cindred Woods have been in our prayers and we miss their company. James Gorman, Maureen Walker, Audrey and Dorothy Martin have also been in the “hands of the healers” but have still been at worship.

• Sympathy was shared with Gretta Walker on the death of her brother Samuel.


Appreciation

ANDREW (Dru) PREECE
The Cathedral nave was full for the Thanksgiving Service for the life of Dru Preece who died on his birthday and a week before he and Gwen would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

The Dean conveyed the sympathy of the cathedral community and the tribute to Dru was paid by the former Dean of Kilmore, Very Rev David Godfrey, a cousin of Gwen’s. Also taking part in the service were Canon Close and Canon Goddard of the Mission to Seafarers.

Dru’s father had been the senior master of the BP fleet of tankers in its heyday. Dru never lost a love of the sea, and he tended to visit his small motor sailor at Carrick marina every day of the year save Christmas Day. A small board notice hung permanently on the door of the family home stating, “Gone to the boat”. Sailing wise, he got more value out of his craft than most.

Although his health in recent years had been far from first class he maintained his service as a church organist. He enjoyed family get togethers and one such was shortly before his unexpected call home from his Heavenly Father. His family and friends will miss his good humour and his way of going about. Gwen and family are assured of continuing prayer and love.

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