Pew Sheet – 3rd May 2026

The Rector writes ‘ At our 9:30am Service in St John’s Church, we welcome family and friends of the late Vonla Good as we dedicate the new Radio Mic in her memory.

At our 11am Service in St Mary’s Church, we welcome the Portadown Male Voice Choir from County Armagh who will sing for us during the service. We are delighted to have you with us.’

The process of finding a new Bishop for Cork, Cloyne & Ross

An Episcopal Electoral College in the Church of Ireland is a specially constituted body that meets to elect a new bishop.

It consists of the Archbishop of the province, representatives from the House of Bishops, and clerical/lay representatives from the vacant diocese and others, authorized under Chapter VI of the Constitution.

Composition of the Electoral College

President: The Archbishop of the province where the vacancy exists.

House of Bishops: Two members (one from each province) are nominated.

Vacant Diocese: Representatives (10–12 clerical and 10–12 lay) elected by their diocesan synod.

Provincial Representatives: Additional clerical and lay

members from other dioceses within the same province (e.g., in the Southern Province, this includes representatives from Dublin/Glendalough, Meath/Kildare, Cork/Cloyne/Ross, and Limerick/Killaloe).

Legal Assessor: A legal expert is appointed to advise on

constitutional matters.

Convening: The College is summoned by the President (Archbishop) once a see is vacant or about to become vacant.

Voting: The synod votes, and a successful candidate requires a simple majority in both the house of clergy and the house of laity.

Deadlock: If no candidate wins, the convenor may call for voting in order of preference, followed by an adjournment and a re-vote if necessary.

Ratification: The election must be ratified by the House of Bishops.

Some prayers to use during the vacancy.

A prayer for a vacant see in the Church of Ireland asks for divine guidance for the electors, wisdom in choosing a new pastor, and faithfulness for the diocese.

A Prayer for the Selection Process:

Almighty God, guide the Episcopal Electoral College with your holy wisdom. Grant them discernment to choose a shepherd who will lead with love, feed your flock, and uphold the faith of this Church and Diocese.

A Prayer for the Diocese:

Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of the Sheep, we commit this diocese into your hands during this time of vacancy. Strengthen the clergy and laity to carry on your work, and prepare us to receive the one you are choosing to lead us.

A reminder about Kanku Biselele, whom I mentioned in last week’s Pewsheet… Some of you may remember, Kanku speaking to us at last year’s Sanctuary Sunday services? He needs our help if possible. Have a read and reach out to Rowland Newenham or myself if you can help. Thank you. Canon Elaine

Kanku Biselele is a scholarship awardee and the first UCC graduate of the Education Pathway Ireland Programme.

Kanku is currently searching for a room in a house or apartment in Cork City or on a bus/train line and has a budget of €650 – €750 per month.

Kanku can provide a references from his current landlord of over 18 months, along with multiple character references from UCC staff and members of Fáilte Cork: A Higher Education Community Sponsorship Group.

Kanku is currently working on building sites while actively searching for a graduate role in civil or sustainable energy engineering.

If you know anyone who would be interested in receiving his CV, please do reach out.

You may have seen Kanku featured in the Echo or Examiner recently!

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41817092.html

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41816519.html

May

Today Sunday 3rd

· 9:30am Dedication of new Radio Mic in memory of Vonla Good at the Service in St John’s Church

· 11am Cork Choral Festival. A 33 strong Male Voice Choir from Portadown will attend the Service in St Mary’s with refreshments afterwards in the Parish Hall.

Next Sunday 10th

Christian Aid All Age Service at 11am

Preacher: The Revd Tony Murphy

June

Sunday 14th

Sunday Club Prizegiving

Saturday 20th

Parish Fete

Sunday 21st

Sanctuary Sunday

July

Sunday 12th

Choral Evensong in St John;s Church 7pm

August

Sunday 30^th

United Service in St Mary’s Church

Followed by Parish Barbecue.

Random Notes DXXV

I heard recently of a play which is soon to be performed in the wonderfully restored “Pav” in Cork city. It is based around the life of one of the world’s most infamous female pirates.

Let me introduce you to Anne Bonny.

She was born in 1697 near the Old Head of Kinsale, as the illegitimate daughter to an English lawyer and his housemaid. The family emigrated to Charleston, Carolina when Mary was still a child. She married James Bonny but soon got bored of a comfortable lifestyle.

There is little documentary evidence of her life, but most of the folklore is based on the information in a book written by Charles Johnson called “The history of Pyrates” from the early 18th century.

Dressed as a man, she travelled to the Bahamas and joined the crew of pirate John Rackham, more commonly known as “Calico Jack”. She was involved in many attacks on ships in this golden age of piracy. King Charles the 1st, brought about a law providing immunity to pirates that surrendered their bounties, but Anne refused to give in and was soon arrested and sentenced to death, Proclaiming herself as a woman, she declared pardon by saying that she was pregnant.

No one knows what happened to her after this. She may have travelled back to North America or stayed in the Bahamas, But I think it’s brilliant that one of the world’s most infamous female pirates hailed from Cork!!