Some big words for a big service! At a rather extended Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral last night, the Ven. Dermot Patrick Martin Dunne was installed as Dean of Christ Church and instituted as incumbent of the Cathedral group of parishes.
During the service the choir sang music that he had chosen for the occasion in conjunction with the Director of Music. This included Bruckner’s Locus iste, Leighton’s Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense canticles, and Purcell’s O God, thou art my God.
During the Installation, the new Dean was given his medallion of office, and handed the silver verge to the Dean’s Verger, and was led to his stall where he is meant to sit in “quiet contemplation”. This will be difficult since it’s directly behind me in the choirstalls, and i’m rarely quiet!
Obviously at such a large event there were an huge number of visiting dignitaries, from the Church of Ireland Bishops, to representatives of the other Christian Churches (including an orthodox priest in full regalia). Both the C of I and the Roman Catholic Archbishops of Dublin were present, and the (excellent) sermon was given by the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Rt Revd M. Burrows, who spoke excellently on what it means to be Dean. A future Archbishop of Dublin in the pulpit perhaps?
Rather disappointingly the service was followed by a reception only involving some nibbles and tea and coffee – on such a grand occasion a glass of wine might surely have been appropriate.