The latest in the series of Christ Church Documents, which is a prelude to the production of a full-scale history of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, has been published by the Four Courts Press.
This, the fourth volume in the series, is The Registers of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, which has been edited by Dr Raymond Refausse, librarian and archivist of the Church of Ireland, and Dr Colm Lennon, senior lecturer in modern history in NUI-Maynooth. Like the other volumes in the series this publication seeks to throw light not only on the history of Christ Church Cathedral but also on the wider development of the city of Dublin.
The Registers volume brings together three sources from the Christ Church archives: the late medieval book of obits, now in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin; funeral and burial entries from the proctors' accounts from the 16th to the 18th century; and the registers of baptisms, marriages and burials from the 18th century onwards.
Taken together, these sources provide a lengthy, and almost continuous, record of the cathedral community from the late middle ages until the dawn of the 20th century.
The Registers provides valuable insights into the close association between the Priory of the Holy Trinity and the citizens of Dublin; identifies the emergence of the post-reformation cathedral as a centre for the colonial administration in Dublin; and charts the departure of the rich and famous after the Act of Union.
No other Irish institution, with the possible exception of Dublin Corporation, can trace its institutional membership over such a protracted period.
The Registers of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, is published by Four Courts Press, Dublin at £30. It is an invaluable resource for historians and genealogists, for those interested in the church in Ireland, and for the growing band of experts and enthusiasts who are intrigued by the development of the city of Dublin.
In an admirable piece of synthesis Four Courts Press published, on St Columba's Day, a new edition of a 16th-century life of the saint. The Life of Colum Cille by Manus O'Donnell has been edited by Brian Lacey, who until recently was a significant force in the cultural revitalisation of Derry.
Tomorrow RTE will broadcast Morning Service from Bantry, Co Cork, where the rector is the Rev Paul Willoughby. July 12th is also Sea Sunday when the Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Roy Warke, will visit St Multose's Church, Kinsale.
The lunchtime organ recital in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, on Wednesday will be given by Barbara Dagg. On Friday in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, George Bayly will give a lunchtime organ recital and in the evening in St Mary's Church, Killarney, there will be a concert by the Hershey Community Chorus from Pennsylvania, USA.
The exhibition in the Dublin Civic Museum, South William Street (beside Powerscourt Town House), "Rescuing the Records", which is part of the celebrations to mark the centenary of the death of the noted archivist, book collector and historian, Sir John T. Gilbert, will continue until the end of July.
The exhibition includes material from the collections of the Representative Church Body Library and chronicles the invaluable work of many Church of Ireland figures who did much to ensure the survival of the archival heritage of Ireland.
Among those whose work is highlighted are Canon J. B. Leslie, of clerical biography fame; Henry Swanzy, Dean of Dromore, and a prolific genealogist; and Beryl Phair, widow of Percy Phair, Bishop of Ossory, who undertook important work for the Irish Manuscripts Commission.