A resplendent Down Cathedral is backdrop to historic installation of canons
A Service of Thanksgiving was held on Thursday 23 April in Down Cathedral to mark the reordering and redecoration of the Cathedral and to install 3 new canons, including the cathedral’s first ever ecumenical canons.
Dean Hull installed Revd Mark Harvey, rector of St Mary’s Ballybeen, as Prebendary of Dunsford and Brother Eric Loisel from Holy Cross Monastery (Order of St Benedict) and Revd John Alderdice (Methodist) as ecumenical canons. Bishop Harold Miller presided over holy communion and dedicated the new lectern and holy table.
The canons
Canon Harvey said that he had been, “delighted to accept Bishop Harold’s invitation to become a canon of Down Cathedral. It’s a real privilege to be joining the Chapter at such an exciting time in the history of our diocese in this Year of Mission.” Mark is currently Clerical Honorary Secretary (Down) and served the diocese as Director of Ordinands for a number of years.
Canon Alderdice, formerly Methodist Chaplain at Queen’s, is Director of Ministry at Edgehill Theological College, Belfast. He said, “I regard it as a real privilege and a joy to be installed as an ecumenical canon. I have had many years of working with colleagues and friends in the Church of Ireland and I look forward to many more.”
Brother Eric’s appointment represents the cathedral’s historic roots and special relationship with the Benedictine community in Rostrevor. He also has links with Downpatrick going back to the early 80s when he and Dom Mark Ephrem were part of a House of Prayer in the town. “After 32 years it’s a bit like coming home,” he said. “I believe that everything that we can do together is better than what we can do separately.”
In his sermon, Revd Canon Jonothan Pierce addressed the new canons saying:
“In being asked to become canons, something bigger is taking place tonight. You are also being asked to be part of an ongoing wave of witness that has been a part of this place since Patrick’s time.”
He continued: “we long to see this place continue to do that in our own day– to draw young and old, men and women into a living faith in Jesus Christ and you are tonight being given a platform in this special place to do exactly that.
“It’s a special privilege and you all bring unique and special things to the worshipping life of this place.”
The cathedral sanctuary has been completely redesigned to make it more versatile for larger services with a new polished limestone floor bringing everything onto one level. There are new seats for clergy, a holy table and the new lectern was a gift from Holy Cross Monastery. The furniture is made from stained American oak, brass and stainless steel and was crafted in Cookstown. At the two locations on the aisle where the Word of God is read or proclaimed a circular mosaic has been placed in the floor, each with a motif from the Book of Kells and words from the Gospels. A new sound system has also been installed and the cathedral’s interior has been completely repainted.
The overall effect is one of space, light and calm – very much conducive to worship – and the versatility of the new layout has already been demonstrated during the diocese’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations with The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thanks
In closing, Dean Hull thanked Consarc for their work on the fabric and redecoration of the building; the builders, Hugh J O’Boyle; and Brian Quinn, Architect, who re–imagined the sanctuary and designed the new furniture. Brian was also responsible for designing the Benedictine Monastery at Rostrevor and the re–ordering of Donaghadee Parish.
The Dean also thanked the individuals and companies who gave so generously to the project – not least the churches of the diocese who contributed through the Bishop’s 1% Cathedrals Appeal. Finally, Dean Hull acknowledged his predecessors, especially Dean John Dinnen and others in the diocese whose initial vision has been realised in the beautiful cathedral we have today.