Tomorrow at Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the Rev Prof Adrian Empey will be installed as precentor in succession to the Rev Dr John Bartlett, who has retired.
Dr Empey was elected by the chapter of Christ Church at its meeting on November 14th, the Feast of St Laurence O'Toole, the patron saint of Dublin. The election of the precentor is the sole piece of patronage in the gift of the chapter, as all other chapter appointments are made by the Archbishop.
Dr Empey brings to the life of Christ Church academic distinction, good humour, and considerable experience of parish and cathedral life in the diocese of Dublin. He is a medieval historian of distinction, having written widely on many aspects of Anglo-Norman Ireland, and having taught in Canada before ordination and more recently, in the Church of Ireland Theological College, where he was appointed principal earlier this year.
He was ordained in 1974 for the curacy of St Ann's Dublin, and after incumbencies in the dioceses of Ossory and Kildare, returned to St Ann's as vicar in 1988. With characteristic vigour he threw himself into the work of the parish and soon was a familiar figure cycling, often at breathtaking speed, to church services, hospital visits, vestry meetings, concerts and the other parts of the never ending round of the life of an inner-city cleric. Dr Empey is also well versed in the intricacies and intrigues of cathedral life, having been a member of the chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral for 10 years.
Tomorrow, RT╔ will broadcast Parish Communion from the Church of St Catherine and St James, Donore Avenue, Dublin, where the vicar is Canon John Crawford, while in Christ Church Cathedral, new acolytes will be commissioned during the Sung Eucharist. After Evensong in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, there will be a recital by David Leigh, acting organist and master of the choristers, of Oliver Messiaen's Navtivite du Seigneur, Nine Meditations on the Birth of Christ. Admission is free and the recital will begin at 4.30 p.m.
In St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, at 7.00 p.m. the annual Civic Carol Service will be held. Readers will represent the various aspects of civic life and will include the Lord Mayor, the Right Honourable Councillor Michael Mulcahy, the Archbishop of Dublin and the Principal of the Theological College. At the same time in St Bartholomew's parish church, Clyde Road, there will be a Concert of Carols and Festive Readings with Alan Stanford and the parish choir, conducted by Malcolm Wisener.
The concert will be in aid of charity and the organ fund.
On Monday, the Archbishop of Armagh will preside at an Electoral College in Church House, Armagh, to elect a Bishop of Connor in succession to the Right Rev James Moore who has retired. The college will consist of 52 members including three bishops, 12 elected clergy and 12 elected lay people from the Diocese of Conor and elected clergy and laity from each of the dioceses of the province of Armagh. If no candidate receives two thirds of the votes of both the lay and clerical members the appointment will pass to the House of Bishops.
On Thursday, the Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Paul Colton, will be in Rosscarbery for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Fachtna's Cathedral and on Friday, he will preside in St Fin Barre's Cathedral at the Cork Civic Carol Service.