26.02.2024
New Canons Bring New Perspectives to Christ Church Cathedral Chapter
A ‘unique tripartite installation’ of new Canons took place in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Sunday afternoon (February 25). The ecumenical, lay and diocesan Canons were installed by Dean Dermot Dunne in the presence of Archbishop Michael Jackson during Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir.
The Cathedral’s new Ecumenical Canon is the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph.
The new Lay Canon is Annie Fletcher, Director of IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Minister in Charge of Crinken, Canon Tom O’Brien was installed as Canon Treasurer, a diocesan representative on the chapter.
Each Canon made their declarations and signed the Cathedral Roll before being assigned their stall in the choir and given their voice in the Chapter.
Speaking before both he and Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph gave blessings at the end of the service, Archbishop Jackson thanked everyone for being part of a unique, tripartite installation of ecumenical, lay and diocesan canons.
The Ecumenical and Lay Canons enable the cathedral to reach out into the wider community and open the cathedral up to the city of Dublin and its people. The new Ecumenical and Lay Canons join Canon Tom Layden SJ and Canon Prof Jim Lucey in this capacity. Canon O’Brien becomes the cathedral’s 12th Canon as well as Canon Treasurer.
Speaking of his new position on the Cathedral Chapter, Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph said he was honoured to be invited to become an Ecumenical Canon. “It is an honour to be an Ecumenical Canon in Christ Church Cathedral. I am glad to know the Anglican tradition and hope to reenforce our relationship between our two Churches. The Orthodox community is received in Anglican churches Dublin and we hope to honour that presence and to open our tradition to Dublin,” he commented adding that the Romanian Orthodox community is the largest Orthodox community in Ireland.
Canon Annie Fletcher said she was looking forward to fostering the connection between IMMA and the cathedral. “I am deeply honoured to accept this profound honour and join the esteemed lineage of Lay Canons alongside such distinguished individuals as Dr Mary McAleese and Professor Jim Lucey. As we embark on this journey together, I am committed to fostering the rich historical connections and shared thought leadership between the Irish Museum of Modern Art and Christ Church Cathedral. Together, we will continue to provide a balm of connection, inclusivity, and radical public engagement for our communities,” she stated.
Canon Tom O’Brien said he was looking forward to contributing to the work of the cathedral. “I was very honoured and privileged to accept the Archbishop’s invitation to the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral. Christ Church Cathedral holds a very special place in my heart. It is where the Archbishop ordained me as deacon in 2016 and as priest in 2018. I look forward to contributing to the valuable work of the cathedral and learning new things as I go,” he said.
Who Are the New Canons?
Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph
Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph was born in Romania. He was ordained in 1994 at the monastery of the Cathedral of Alba Iulia. He went to France in the summer of 1994 to study at the Saint–Sergius Institute of Orthodox Theology in Paris. Since arriving in France he provided the liturgical and spiritual service of the monastery of monastics Notre–Dame–de–Toute–Protection in Bussy–en–Othe, in Yonne. He was elected Archbishop in November 1997 by the Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western and Central Europe.
Annie Fletcher
Annie Fletcher is the Director of IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art. A noted International Curator, Annie joined IMMA from the Van Abbemuseum in the Netherlands where she was Chief Curator.Annie has extensive leadership experience in the contemporary arts. In addition to her role as Chief Curator at Van Abbemuseum she is a tutor at de Appel, Amsterdam, the Dutch Art Institute (DAI) and the Design Academy Eindhoven, and regularly worked with art institutions around the world including the SALT Istanbul, New Museum, New York, and L’Internationale network and De Appel Art Centre, Amsterdam. In 2012 she was Curator of Ireland’s Contemporary Art biennale EVA International and is regularly called upon to sit on major international juries, including the Turner Prize in 2014 and the selection committee for the Irish Pavilion at Venice in 2016. Born in Ireland Fletcher studied in Trinity College Dublin and started her career in the Douglas Hyde Gallery in 1994.
As a curator she is particularly interested in how an encounter with art can generate a shared civic space and how, in today’s world, contemporary art can address complex ideas of time, space and participation in order to achieve resonance with the public.
Canon Tom O’Brien
Canon Tom O’Brien has been Minister in Charge of Crinken in south Dublin since August 2023. Prior to that he was a Self Supporting Minister in the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and had supported ministry in a number of parishes including his home parish of Holmpatrick, St Mary’s in Howth, Kill O’ the Grange, and Raheny and Coolock. While engaged in Self Supporting Ministry, Tom held senior positions within the HSE.
