CLONMEL CELEBRATES:
The New Year promises new beginnings and so it was for the parishioners of the Clonmel Union of churches when they welcomed the Revd Canon Barbara Fryday on (appropriately!) Friday 12th January as their new Rector, succeeding the Revd Canon George Knowd who retired in June last.
The Institution took place in Old St. Mary’s Church Clonmel before a large congregation that included many clergy, civic representatives, parishioners and friends from all denominations making it a truly ecumenical occasion. Particular guests included Canon Power, Fr. Colum O’Brien and Fr. Billy Meehan from St. Peter and Paul’s Church Clonmel; Mr. John Carew of the Lions’ Club and Mr. John O’Sullivan of the Rotary Club. Among the Church of Ireland clergy were the Archdeacon the Ven John Murray, the Archdeacon of Ferns the Ven. Dr Paul Mooney, the Very Revd Billy Beare, Dean of Lismore, the Very Revd Gordon Wynne Dean of Leighlin and Registrar, the Very Revd Dr Philip Knowles Dean of Cashel and the Very Revd Norman Lynas Dean of Ossory along with many clergy from the surrounding parishes and dioceses.
There were also many parishioners from the Kilcooley and Fertagh area who travelled across to be present bidding their former rector adieu and wishing her well in her new post.
The Revd Barbara was accompanied by her husband John and family Christina, Laura and Howard. She has been rector of Kilcooley/Fertagh Group of Parishes since 1996 and Canon of the Prebendary of Tascoffin since 2003 (which she continues to hold) and is also coordinator of the Diocesan Link with Lünd in Sweden.
The Service was conducted by the Rt. Revd Michael Burrows Bishop of Cashel and Ossory accompanied by his Chaplain the Revd George Cliffe and the address was given by the Revd Brian O’Rourke from St. Anne’s Union Shandon Cork. The singing was led by St. Mary’s Choral Society with organists Pierce Purcell and Gerard Flynn.
After the opening hymn “O Worship the Lord” the Bishop greeted everyone and the Archdeacon presented the Revd Fryday to the Bishop who commended the congregation to pray for the nominee maintaining that its importance is beyond words.
Between the psalm the lessons were read by Mr. Howard Fryday and the Revd Jenny Crowley Assistant priest in Clonmel. The Gospel was read by the Revd Arthur Carter also Assistant priest in Clonmel.
In his sermon the Revd Brian O’Rourke, who grew up in Clonmel, took the first reading of the shepherd going out as his text elaborating on the theme of journeying whether physically or emotionally. He talked of his childhood in the town and of getting into trouble running around the two lambs. He was delighted to be back and supporting his colleague who had trained with him in Wales. He spoke of the job description of a rector: to proclaim the Word of the Lord, to give repentance, absolution, forgiveness, intercession, to go visiting, to be a listener, to succour the sick and the dieing, to lead by example – to walk with the flock in the Name of Christ, nurturing them.
He stated that the world had changed – altered so much as to challenge the Christian today – especially the older people and who should listen and observe the thoughts and approaches of the next generation, who it seemed, are more readily able to discard old enmities, the past and prejudices and become more tolerant of the things that matter. So much torment is levied on matters that are not important to the young who prefer to go off into the world to “do” and act as volunteers where so much help is needed.
Coming back to the Revd Barbara he concluded that the role of women in the Church of Ireland had been a big step forward, not taken by other denominations, and how beneficial their presence as priests is now with their particular female approach to life – “they get on with it!” And so will the new Rector of Clonmel with her particular personality leading the parishes into the future with that journey: leading them out and leading them home.
There then followed the Institution beginning with the Registrar reading the certificate of nomination, which had been decided on 20th October 2006. The Bishop invited the Revd Barbara to take up the Incumbency as vacated by the Revd Canon George Knowd on his retirement last year. The Revd Barbara then read the declarations as required by the Constitution of the Church of Ireland promising her allegiance to her new parish, to the laws of the Church of Ireland and rejecting all other allegiances. This she duly signed and being presented to the congregation they promised to support her in her new ministry. As the warm applause died away the lilting melody of the hymn “Take my life and let it be” wafted up into the high rafters and rang out the moment of new beginning in the old church.
During the final part of the service, the Commission, members of the congregation brought forwards symbols of the various aspects of the ministry of an incumbent, Mr. Ernie Bates presented a bible; Ms. Thelma Griffith presented water, symbol of baptism; Mr. Brian Palmer presented a Book of Common Prayer; Mr. Bob Savage and Ms. Hilary Carter brought forward bread and wine; Ms. Daphne Masterson presented symbolic oil and the Very Revd Billy Beare presented a copy of the Diocesan Directory symobolising the varieties of activities but all of the same God and finally Ms. Betty King Churchwarden presented a key of the church door symbolically requesting the rector to watch over the going out and the coming in.
Following the Peace and hymn the Revd Barbara led the prayers from the nave – among her people – and then, as is traditional, announced the times of the Eucharist that she would be celebrating in the churches of the Union on the Sunday following this Institution. The final hymn “Thine be the Glory” included a collection for the Bishop’s Fund for Training for Ministry.
At the reception held afterwards Bishop Michael thanked all involved in the preparation for the service and the hospitality afterwards. Canon Power thanked everyone for the invitation to be present, remarking how ecumenism was making steady progress all the while and invited everyone to the St. Peter and Paul’s on Tuesday 23rd January for an ecumenical service in the week of Christian Unity.
Bishop Michael referred to the work of the Revd Canon George Knowd and that of the three “Cs”: the Revd George Cliffe, the Revd Jennie Crowley and the Revd Arthur Carter who held the fort during the vacancy.
He concluded by recalling knowing Laura Fryday in Trinity College Chapel, as a happy student with her (prophetic) glass of Clonmel Bulmer’s cider, but where she also took worship as a normal part of College life with an “unstuffy godliness”. Knowing the Revd Barbara now. he sees the daughter in her mother!
In reply the Revd Barbara thanked everyone for coming; she is happy to be here. She thanked her predecessors, and indeed those who had come from her previous parish, the evening tinged with mixed emotions, she, however, was happily looking forward to the future with Clonmel.