Revd Canon Patrick Comerford

BD, Dip Ecum, FRSAI, FASC
Lecturer in Anglicanism and Liturgy

Patrick Comerford teaches the modules on Liturgy, Worship and Spirituality (EM8824) and Anglican Studies in an Irish Context (EM8825). He has studied journalism in Japan and theology at the Irish School of Ecumenics (TCD), Milltown, the Kimmage Mission Institute, and the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (Cambridge) and holds a BD from Maynooth, a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecumenics from Trinity College Dublin, and certificates from the IOCS, Cambridge, and NSK, Tokyo. He received the Oulton Prize for Patristic Studies in 2008.

A former journalist, he was Foreign Desk Editor of The Irish Times for eight years, has worked with some pf the main Anglican mission agencies, and is a member of the board and council of USPG (Anglicans in World Mission).

He is the author of Embracing Differnce (2007), Reflections of the Bible in the Quran (2009) and A Romantic Myth (2009).

He is a contributor to Christianity (2001), The Laity and the Church of Ireland, 1000–2000 (2002), Untold Stories (2002), the Encyclopaedia of Ireland (2003), The Wexford Man (2007), The Lure of Greece (2007), China and the Irish (Dublin 2009, Beijing 2010), Celebrating the Oxford Movement (2009), Victory or Glorious Defeat (2010), and A History of Enniscorthy (ed Colm Tóibín, 2010).

He is a member of the General Synod, Standing Committee, the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, the Interfaith Working Group, and a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. He was the chaplain to the Anglican Primates’ Meeting in Dublin in 2011.

His research interests include mission theology, Christian–Muslim relations, Orthodox spirituality, patristics and the role of architecture in creating liturgical space.

Publications:

2010: ‘Memorial plaque to … Henry Wallop …’, in Colm Tóibín and Celestine Rafferty (eds), Enniscorthy, A History (Wexford: Wexford County Council Public Library Services, 2010, ISBN 978–0–9560574–7–1), pp 122–123.

2010: ‘Bishop Joseph Stock (ca 1740–1813) and the Clergy of the Diocese of Killala and Achonry during the 1798 Rising’ in Victory or Glorious Defeat?: Biographies of Participants in the Great Rebellion of 1798, ed Sheila Mulloy (Westport: Carrowbaun Press, Dublin: Original Writing, 2010, ISBN: 978–1–907179–75–4), pp 113–145.

2010: ‘Heroism and Zeal’: Pioneers of the Irish Christian Missions to China (with Dr Richard O’Leary of QUB), Mandarin translation, in Jerusha McCormack (ed), China and the Irish (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2010, ISBN 978–7–01–009194–5), pp 77–92.

2009: ‘Heroism and Zeal’: Pioneers of the Irish Christian Missions to China (with Dr Richard O’Leary of QUB), in Jerusha McCormack (ed), China and the Irish (Dublin: New Island and RTÉ – Thomas Davis Lecture Series, 2009, ISBN 978–1–84840–042–9), pp 73–87.

2009: (with Bishop Michael Jackson, Canon Hugh Wybrew, and Canon Michael Kennedy) Celebrating the Oxford Movement (Belfast: Affirming Catholicism Ireland, 2009), ACI Occasional Papers 1, Chapter 1, pp 7–34.

2009: A Romantic Myth? Kilcronaghan’s link to ‘Zorba the Greek’ (Tobermore: Kilcronaghan Community Association, in association with Magherafelt Arts Trust, 2009).

2008: The Anglo–Catholic Movement: more relevant today than ever? (Dublin: Saint Bartholomew’s Parish, 2008), 24pp pamphlet.

2008: Reflections of the Bible in the Quran: a comparison of Scriptural Traditions in Christianity and Islam (Dublin: National Bible Society of Ireland, Bedell–Boyle lecture series, 2008).

2008: ‘The Fifth Sunday of Epiphany,’ A Year of Sermons at Saint Patrick’s Dublin, ed. R.B. MacCarthy (Dublin: Typemasters, 2008), pp 19–22.

2008: ‘Foreword’ to Mainland Chinese Students and Immigrants and their Engagement with Christianity, Churches and Irish Society, Dr Richard O’Leary and Dr Lan Li (Dublin: Agraphon Press for Dublin University Far Eastern Mission and China Education and Cultural Liaison Committee, 2008).

2008: ‘The Spirituality of Icons,’ in Panhellenic Society of Iconographers and Dimitris Kolioussis, ed Richard Gordon (Derry: Gordonart Publications, 2008) exhibition catalogue in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, pp 18–19.

2007: Embracing Difference: The Church of Ireland in a plural society ( Dublin: Church of Ireland Publications, 2007), 88 pp.

2007: ‘Sir Richard Church and the Irish Philhellenes in the Greek War of Independence,’ in The Lure of Greece, eds. J.V. Luce, C. Morris, C. Souyoudzoglou–Haywood (Dublin and Athens: Hinds/Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies, Athens, in association with the Department of Classics, TCD, 2007), pp 1–18.

2007: ‘The Hon Percy Jocelyn (1764–1843): Bishop of Ferns and the “most idle of all reverend idlers”,’ in The Wexford Man: Essays in Honour of Nicky Furlong (ed. Bernard Browne), festschrift to Nicky Furlong, ed. B. Browne (Dublin: Geography Publications, 2007), pp 39–47.

2006: From Mission to Independence: Four Irish bishops in China (Dublin and Shanghai: Dublin University Far Eastern Mission, March 2006) (24 pp, pamphlet).

2003: ‘The Fethard Boycott,’ in The Encyclopaedia of Ireland, ed. B. Lalor, (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan / New Haven and London: Yale University Press 2003).

2003: ‘Cead Mile Failte to Repentance and Reconciliation’, in Untold Stories: Protestants in the Republic of Ireland 1922–2002, eds. C. Murphy, L. Adair (Dublin: Liffey Press, 2003), pp 59–62.

2002: ‘An innovative people: the laity, 1780–1830,’ in The laity and the Church of Ireland, 1000 – 2000: All Sorts and Conditions, eds. R. Gillespie, W.G. Neely (Dublin: Four Courts, 2002).

2001: ‘A Brief History of Christianity,’ Part 2 of Christianity, ed. P. McGarry; co–authors Hans Kung, Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, &c, (Dublin: Veritas, 2001).

1999: ‘The other Christian traditions,’ in Memory & Mission: Christianity in Wexford 600 to 2000 AD, ed. W. Forde (Wexford: Diocese of Ferns, 1999).

1998: ‘Not Forgive and Forget, but Remember and be Reconciled,’ and ‘Remembering can unite,’ chapters in From Heritage to Hope: Christian Perspectives on the 1798 Bicentenary, ed. W. Forde (Gorey: Byrne–Perry, 1998).

1997: ‘Church of Ireland Clergy and the 1798 Rising,’ in Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter: The Clergy and 1798, ed. L. Swords (Dublin: Columba, 1997).

1996: ‘A Bitter Legacy?’ in The Great Famine: A Church of Ireland Perspective, ed. K. Milne (Dublin: APCK, 1996).

1994: ‘Arafat visit heralds a new era for Palestinians,’ in Prerequisites for Peace in the Middle East (Elsinore, Denmark: UN Department of Public Information, 1994).

1992: St Maelruain: Tallaght’s Own Saint (Dublin: Tallaght Parish, pamphlet, 1992).

1991: ‘In Prosperity and Adversity’ (short story), in True to Type, ed. F. Brogan (Dublin: Sugarloaf/Irish Times Books, 1991).

1987: Desmond Tutu: Black Africa’s Man of Destiny (Dublin: Veritas, 1987).

1984: Do You Want To Die for NATO? (Dublin and Cork: Mercier Press, 1984).

1976: chapter in Eamon de Valera, ed. PT O’Mahony (Dublin: Irish Times Books 1976).

Journal papers:

‘The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to Open,’ Koinonia, vol 4, No 13 (Lent 2011), pp 10–13.

‘Stained glass windows in the chapel of Gormanston College, Co Meath,’ Multicolour Celebration: a Symposium on Liturgy and Music, Creative Worship Working Group, (Huissen Monastery, the Netherlands, March 2011), p. 1.

‘Anglo–Catholicism: Relevant after 175 years?’ Koinonia (St James Anglican Church, Kansas City, Missouri), vol 4, No 12 (Christmas 2010), pp 13–23.

‘Saint Edan’s Cathedral, Ferns,’ Madoc 24/1 (Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verlorem, 2010), pp 16–19.

‘Matching prayer life and spirituality with temperament and personality,’ Search 31/1 (2008), pp 37–45.

‘Anglican–Orthodox Dialogue: open door or distant object?’ Search 30/2 (2007) pp 141–152.

‘Prayer, spirituality and liturgy in the Orthodox tradition,’ Affirming Catholicism Ireland Newsletter, Epiphany 2007.

‘Pastoral issues in Muslim–Christian relations,’ Search 29/2 (2006), pp 152–157.

‘The Reconstruction of Theological Thinking – what are the implications for the Church in China?’ Search 29/1 (2006), pp 13–22.

‘Edmund Comerford (d. 1509) and William Comerford (ca 1486–1539): the last pre–Reformation Bishop of Ferns and his ‘nephew’, the Dean of Ossory,’ Journal of the Wexford Historical Society, Vol 20 (2005), pp 156–172.

‘The Bishop of Meath and the Ratoath impostor: Thomas Lewis O’Beirne (1748–1823) and Laurence Hynes Halloran (1765–1831),’ Ríocht na Midhe, vol 16 (2005), Journal of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, pp 69–82.

‘Just war and jihad: whose holy war in Iraq?’ Search 26/2 (2003), pp 65–73.

‘A Schism or a Tradition? The Church of Ireland and the Nonjurors,’ Search 25/2 (2002), pp 100–111.

‘Understanding Islam – A Year after 11 September,’ Doctrine and Life 52/2 (2002), pp 396–404.

‘Vienna plays pivotal role in promoting dialogue with Islamic world,’ in Euro–Med dialogue between Cultures and Civilizations: the Role of the Media, eds E. Brix, M. Weiss (Vienna: Diplomatic Academy, Favorita Papers, special ed, 2002), pp 32–34.

‘Pilgrimage to Patmos: Jerusalem of the Aegean and Mount Athos of the islands,’ Spirituality 7/37 (2001), pp 210–213.

‘Bishop Ricards and Dean Croghan: The contrasting tale of two Wexford missionaries in South Africa,’ Journal of the Wexford Historical Society (2001), pp 21–44.

‘Defining Greek and Turk: Uncertainties in the Search for European and Muslim identities,’ Cambridge Review of International Affairs 13/2 (2000), pp 240–253.

‘Simon Butler and the forgotten role of the Church of Ireland during the 1798 Rising,’ Journal of the Butler Society (2000), pp 271–279.

‘Genealogies, Myth–making, and Christmas,’ Doctrine and Life 50/11 (2000) pp 552–556.

‘Star Wars: new age theology or exploiting the children?’ Doctrine and Life 49/8 (1999), pp 494–498.

‘From India to Brazil: Nicholas Comerford, a seventeenth–century Kilkenny cartographer,’ Old Kilkenny Review, Journal of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society (1999), pp 92–102.

‘Edward Nangle (1799–1883): the Achill Missionary in a New Light,’ Search 22/2 (1999), pp 123–136.

‘Edward Nangle (1799–1883): the Achill Missionary in a new light, Part II,’ Cathar na Mairt, Journal of the Westport Historical Society, 19 (1999), pp 8–22.

‘Edward Nangle (1799–1883): the Achill Missionary in a New Light, Part I,’ Cathar na Mairt, Journal of the Westport Historical Society, 18 (1998), pp 21–29.

‘1798: Learning from the Commemorations,’ Doctrine and Life 48/7 (1998), pp 405–412.

‘Co Wexford in 1798: Understanding the role of Church of Ireland clergy and laity,’ Search 20/1 (1997), pp 32–41.

‘The Church of Ireland in County Kilkenny and the Diocese of Ossory during the 1798 rising,’ Old Kilkenny Review (1998), pp 144–182.

‘Euseby Cleaver, Bishop of Ferns, and the clergy of the Church of Ireland in the 1798 Rising in Co Wexford,’ Journal of the Wexford Historical Society (1997), pp 66–94.

Islam and Muslims in Ireland: Moving from Encounter to Understanding,’ Search 19/2 (1996), pp 89–93.

‘John Comerford of Ballybur, 1598–1667: Tracing his later life,’ Old Kilkenny Review (1994), pp 23–36.

‘Compassionate and Passionate – Colin O’Brien Winter (1928–1981),’ Search 14/2 (1991), pp 34–41.

‘Zephania Kameeta: Namibia’s Black Liberation Theologian,’ Doctrine and Life 41/3 (1991), pp 133–141.

‘The Storm that Threatens: A comment,’ The Furrow 34/10 (1983), pp 620–625.

‘Political theology, theological politics: Nuclear Insanity,’ Springs (SCM) 1981.

‘The Early Society of Friends … in Kilkenny,’ Old Kilkenny Review (1973).

Forthcoming: ‘James Comerford (1817–1902): a Wexford artist and architect,’ in the Journal of the Wexford Historical Society (2011).

Presented Papers:

2011: ‘Prayer, mission and building the kingdom: the work of USPG,’ Affirming Catholicism, annual conference, Saint Matthew’s, Westminster, 30 June 2011.

2010: ‘Spirituality and Mission,’ USPG conference, Swanwick, Derbyshire, 10.6.2010.

2010: ‘Mission: the common ground for ecumenism,’ Annual Ecumenical Lecture, Saint Patrick’s College, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, 24.2.2010.

2009: ‘Saint Francis: Lifestyle for today,’ annual retreat, Third Order of Saint Francis, Dublin, 3.10.2009.

2009: ‘The Cretan School of Icons and its contribution to Western Art’ (Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 27.06.2009, lecture series, ‘Icons in Liturgy and Culture,’ in conjunction with exhibition ‘Icons in Transformation’).

2009: ‘Reconciliation and Mission: The Irish Experience,’ USPG conference, High Leigh, Hertfordshire, 23.6.2009.

2009: ‘Listening to Prayers from the East,’ Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, lecture–sermon, 1.2.2009.

2008: ‘The Anglo–Catholic Movement: more relevant today than ever?’ Saint Bartholomew’s Church, Dublin, 29.11.2008.

2008: ‘Irish Anglicans and the Greek War of Independence,’ Church of Ireland Historical Society, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 19.11.2008.

2008: Trinity College Bristol, Consultation on the Teaching of Anglicanism, 8–9 April 2008, presentation on teaching Anglicanism in Irish theological colleges.

2007: University College Dublin, Confucius Institute for Ireland, and the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies, UCD, Inaugural International Conference (16–18.8.2007), ‘Rising China in the Age of Globalisation.’ Conference paper: ‘Irish Anglican Bishops in China: Their role in moving from a mission church to an independent church.’

2006: The Durrell School of Corfu, ‘The Emergence of Modern Greece: Politics, Literature, Society, Corfu, 21–27.5.2006.’ Conference paper: ‘From Celbridge to Corfu: Sir Charles Napier and the Irish Philhellenes on Kephallonia.’

2006: ‘Reflections of the Bible in the Quran: a comparison of Scriptural Traditions in Christianity and Islam,’ Bedell–Boyle Annual lecture, National Bible Society of Ireland, Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy.

2005: Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Dublin, Conference, ‘Beyond Christian Missions? Ad Gentes – 40 years on.’ Conference paper, ‘Mission from the Perspective of the Anglican Communion’.

2005: ‘The Dublin University missions: two contrasting Church of Ireland missions in the nineteenth century,’ Godfrey Day Memorial Lecture (DUFEM), Trinity College Dublin.

2003: Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens and NUI Galway, conference ‘Irish involvement in Greek, culture, literature and politics,’ September 2003. Conference paper: ‘Sir Richard Church and the Irish Philhellenes in the Greek War of Independence’.

2003: ‘The Dublin University missions: two contrasting Church of Ireland missions in the nineteenth century,’ International Conference on Mission History and Ireland, NUI Maynooth and Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth.

2003: ‘Ireland’s presence in the Near East Today,’ conference paper, Royal Irish Academy, Consultative Committee on Biblical and Near Eastern Studies.

2002: Co–chair, Working Group III, ‘Mediterranean Crossroads: Culture, Religion and Security,’ Halki International Seminar, (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, Eliamep), Halki, Greece.

2002: ‘Euro–Med dialogue between cultures and civilisations: the role of the Media,’ International Expert Seminar, Vienna, Austrian Foreign Ministry and Diplomatic Academy Vienna, expert panellist.

2000: ‘Religion in Co Wexford from St Ibar to the Present Day,’ Dr George Hadden Memorial Lecture, Wexford Festival Fringe.

1996: ‘Edward Nangle (1799–1883): the Achill Missionary in a New Light,’ Scoil Acla, Achill Island Summer School, Co Mayo.

1996: ‘Sketching the Maze,’ keynote paper, 33rd Glenstal Ecumenical Conference, Glenstal Abbey.

1995: ‘Africa: What Future?’, Trocaire/Studies seminar, Images of Africa, Milltown Institute.

1995: ‘Famine: Irish history and the world today,’ Sligo Arts Festival, seminar paper.