Bishop of New York is guest preacher at Spire dedication

Tuesday September 11th 2007

The Spire of Hope at night. On the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 bombings, the Bishop of New York, the Rt Rev Dr Mark Sisk, will preach at the dedication of the Spire of Hope at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

The dedication, by the Most Rev Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh, will take place during a Festal Evensong on Tuesday September 11.

Also taking part in the service will be the Very Rev Dr Hugh Kennedy, Administrator of St Peter’s Cathedral, Rev Ivan McElhinney, former President of the Methodist Church, Councillor Jim Rodgers, Lord Mayor of Belfast, and members representing various aspects of the Cathedral’s life.

Representatives of the various companies and practices involved in the erection of The Spire of Hope will also be present.

All the hymns in the service will highlight aspects of the Christian hope and will include the Cathedral’s theme hymn – All people that on earth do dwell, to the tune of St. Anne. The psalm and the settings for the canticles will be the same as those used at the Consecration of the Cathedral in 1904.

A plaque is being erected recognising the God-given talents of those involved in the erection of the Spire, and at a later date, the customary inscription on the stonework will be completed recording the dedication of this development in the Cathedral’s evolution.

The service commences at 8pm.