In recent years there has been a renewal of interest in the relationship between the Anglican Church and fine art. Books such as Canon Keith Walker's Images or idols? The Place of Sacred Art in Churches Today and Jeremy Begbie's Voicing Creation's Praise, Towards a Theology of the Arts have been useful in stimulating debate and have helped the church to begin to recover its ancient role as a patron of the arts.
The reformed Church of Ireland, true to its puritan roots, betrayed little interest in art. Its church buildings were, for the most part, plain and unadorned with little colour on the walls, in windows or in furnishings until the 19th century.
However, in one area, the commissioning of silverwork, the Church of Ireland was a considerable patron. The Reformation changed eucharist practice by emphasising greater lay participation in the Holy Communion.
Chalices were abandoned or refashioned into larger communion cups, flagons were required for wine, and patens increased in size. Many of these new pieces, which were the work of leading Dublin and provincial silversmiths, were memorial pieces and their decoration and inscriptions are valuable sources for aspects of local history.
There is, until the end of November, an opportunity to see some of the best provincial pieces in the Office of Public Works, 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin. The exhibition entitled "Me fiere fecit. North Thomond Church Silver" includes Church of Ireland chalices, patens and flagons from the cathedrals and parishes in the dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe. Admission is free.
Two other aspects of the church's cultural life will be addressed next week. In the National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin, on Wednesday evening, the Irish Society for Archives will host a lecture by Dr Raymond Refausse on "The role of the Representative Church Body Library as a repository for the archives and manuscripts of the Church of Ireland". All are welcome. It will begin at 8 p.m.
The Roscrea Autumn Conference begins on Friday and will continue until November 5th when the theme will be "Aspects of Music and Liturgy in the Medieval Irish Church". Among the speakers will be Dr Barra Boydell, senior lecturer in music, NUI - Maynooth, who will give papers on the musical heritage of Christ Church and St Patrick's Cathedrals, Dublin. Bookings and additional information: Father Nivard Kinsella, guestmaster, Mt St Joseph, Roscrea (0505-21711).
Tomorrow RTE will broadcast parish communion from All Saints' Church, Grangegorman, where the vicar is Canon David Pierpoint, while also televising a parish eucharist with the Rev Ian Poulton and the congregation of Killiney, Ballybrack.
The Rector of Ballyrashane, Co Antrim, the Rev John McDowell, will preach at the Sung Eucharist in Trinity College Chapel, Dublin, while in St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, the chapter preacher will be Canon Paul Willoughby. At Evensong in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the "Hopes for the New Millennium" address will be given by Father Peter McVerry SJ.
On Tuesday the final lunchtime lecture on "Some Archbishops of Dublin and Glendalough" will be given in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 1.15 p.m. when Dr Muriel McCarthy, keeper of Marsh's Library, will speak on Narcissus Marsh.
On Friday the church's Ministry of Healing in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe will hold an Evening Conference beginning at 7.30 p.m. The guest speaker, in St Peter's Church, will be Dr Anne Townsend, a non-stipendiary minister of the Church of England, who is a doctor and psychotherapist.