Pew Sheet – 6th March 2022

The Rector writes ‘Thank you to the Healer/Prayer Group in the parish for suggesting that at 7pm each night during these weeks of Lent, we pause and pray for peace. I have already emailed some prayers you might like to use and if you’d like a print of these, just let me know’.

Next Sunday 13th March 7pm

Choral Evensong in St John’s Church, Monkstown

(the first one in 2 years! Come support the Chamber Choir under the direction of Roger Ellis)

Wednesday 16th March 3pm

Mothers’ Union will meet at the Parish Hall for a cuppa and a flower

arranging demonstration by Brenda Haubold ( née Poole). Also Hazel Sweetnam and Marjorie Garland will have their MU cards and small gifts for sale. We will have a raffle for Brenda‘s arrangements too.

Look forward to seeing you there. (DW)

St Patrick’s Day Thursday 17th March 10:30am

Service of Holy Communion in St Mary’s Church

(Please note no Wednesday Service on 16th March)

Friday 18th March 10am till 12 noon

On this day of Remembrance and Recognition, the Churches will be open for 2 hours for private prayer and the Bells will be rung at 11am.

Music Notes 06-03-2022

Hymns at St Mary’s

370 Stand up and bless the Lord

537 O God our help in ages past

366 Praise my soul the King of Heaven

This Sunday has been named Woman Composer Sunday. In honour of that celebration the hymn prelude before the service is based on the tune ‘Carlisle’ which we use for hymn 370. The setting was written by June Nixon who is one of Australia’s best-known organists and composers.

She gained her Bachelor of Music degree in Melbourne and went on to study in London where she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. June Nixon was appointed organist at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne in 1973 and remained there until 2013. She has been honoured by many religious and musical organisations including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Royal School of Church Music. Her music is loved by organists as it is both accessible to play and very pleasant to hear. I hope you will agree!

The postlude today remembers the people of Ukraine who are constantly in our thoughts and prayers.

Bébhinn 087 228 5965

bebhinnmuire@gmail.com

Random Notes CDXVI

Huntington Castle on the Carlow/Wexford border became a fascination of mine while I was researching my final year project on the walled gardens of Ireland.

Being unable to travel in 2021, it was one of many houses and gardens to be on my bucket-list.

So a few weeks ago, I scrambled out of my now self-imposed comfort zone and drove up to Huntington.

Built in 1625, it was the ancestral home of the Earl of Esmonde. Over the years, female ancestors inherited the property, hence the surname of the current owners – Dundin Robertson. Alexander Dundin Robertson now lives in the castle with his wife and three young boys and upon arrival, after a bumpy drive up the avenue, the smell of wood smoke awakens the senses with smoke gently drifting out of the chimney pots. The extensive gardens, including a 400 year old Yew walk, are open to the public and Alex gives guided tours of the castle, which was fascinating.

It is so wonderful that the original owners still live in the castle rather than being held by the OPW or similar trusts. To wander into the drawing room and see a modern book of “tunes for children” on the grand piano surrounded by ancient pictures and furniture was truly heart-warming. When we were being guided through the old kitchen there was scratching on the door and Alex asked us “do you mind if I let the dogs in?” Two lovely friendly mongrels then joined the group for the rest of the tour!

Alex’s great aunt was Olivia Dundin Robertson. Born in 1920, she went on to be a renowned feminist and converted the dungeons of the castle into a temple to the Goddess of Love. This is now part of the house tour, and it was explained to us that her interest stemmed, along with many other movements, away from the patriarchal structure of more established religions in the early 20^th century. She lectured on feminism all over the world and remained in the castle until her death in 2013.

As exclaimed in a brochure for Huntington Castle, it is part of Ireland’s colourful heritage.