13.12.2017
Journeying in Faith by Cecil Hyland launched at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
A new book which encourages readers to continue their search for a faith that is alive and relevant was launched in Christ Church Cathedral on Monday evening (December 11). Written by Canon Cecil Hyland, Journeying in Faith – A Walk with Christ is published byChurch of Ireland Publishing (CIP). It was launched by the Rt Revd Kenneth Kearon, Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, in the historic surroundings of the cathedral’s Music Room. A large turnout of people heard from a range of speakers who commended the new book as one which would be useful for engaging people seriously with the Christian faith.
Canon Cecil Hyland, who has served for over fifty years in the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland, felt compelled to write a book on ‘loving God with all our mind’ (drawing on Matthew 22:37). He hopes that this book will ‘encourage a continuation of the search for a faith that is alive and relevant in our day’.
Dr Kenneth Milne, Chairman of the Church of Ireland’s Literature Committee, acted as MC for the evening, and explained that the new book ‘fills a gap in publishing reflective material’ by CIP. The Dean of Christ Church, Dean Dermot Dunne, welcomed everyone to the cathedral and praised the author’s ‘deep spirituality, commitment to prayer and ability to reach out to all in compassion’. Canon Hyland expressed his thanks to everyone who had supported and encouraged him during his life, especially his wife, Dorothy, saying ‘all the commas [in the book] are hers’. He also thanked, among others, Dr Margaret Daly–Denton, the editor of the book, for all her guidance, Dr Susan Hood who had managed the process of producing the book with great calm, and Chris Conville who had designed the book with flair and imagination. He said that he felt that Christianity is ‘about taking a journey – an adventure – with Christ. It will have times of joy and difficulty but there in the midst of it will be the presence of God and the presence of the community’. Canon Hyland also called for post–confirmation development of faith for Church of Ireland members, and hoped that the book could prove useful in that regard.
Bishop Kenneth Kearon – who was a student at Trinity College, Dublin, when Cecil was Dean of Residence (Chaplain) there – formally launched the book. He drew special attention to the motif of the scallop shell, used throughout the book, which is a symbol of blessing for a journey and often used at baptism. He said that the shell is ‘both fragile and strong, protecting the organism inside when it is being tossed about in the seas’ and that this is a strong metaphor for the journey of life and faith. He said that ‘the journey is valuable in itself as we learn from each other and build up a pattern for life on the way’. Bishop Kearon praised the book as ‘a product of a lifetime of pastoral ministry’ which would be useful for those who seek to ‘seriously engage with faith’. While the book addresses ‘big theological questions,’ he said, ‘it does so creatively, not destructively … giving confidence to our questioning not uncertainty’.
Finally, Canon Hyland’s old friend the Revd Ted Woods – who contributed a foreword to the book – concluded proceedings by recommending reading and reflecting on the new book. He said that we ‘should not be afraid to ask questions, especially in times when people find faith in God difficult’. He said that Cecil ‘brings light to dark corners’ and stressed the importance of ‘interpreting and living out our faith as an active part of a compassionate society’.
The book is available from https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store. It is priced €12.50/£10.
Canon Hyland was ordained in 1963, and served curacies in Belfast and Dublin before returning to Belfast in 1967 as Church of Ireland Youth Officer. Six years later he was appointed Dean of Residence in Trinity College, Dublin, and subsequently served as Rector of Tullow and Rector of Howth before his retirement from the stipendiary ministry in 2005. In addition he has been the Dublin and Central Director of Ordinands, a member of the Dublin Diocesan Synod and General Synod of the Church of Ireland, a member of the chapter of Christ Church Cathedral, and has been involved in theological and adult education and ministry to retired clergy.