Last week the Church of Ireland Gazette devoted its front page to the appointment of Canon Adrian Empey as principal of the Theological College. This week, in a similar format, the Gazette's front page carries the appointment of its editor, Canon Ian Ellis.
Dr Ellis is no stranger to the Gazette, having been a leader writer for the paper for many years, and he has considerable experience in broadcasting. As a former member of the editorial committee of Search and an active member of the editorial committee of the APCK, he is well versed in the wider world of Church of Ireland publishing. He is also the author of a number of books and articles, principally on the theme of ecumenism, most notably Vision and Reality, A survey of 20th century Irish inter-church relations which was published in 1992.
A graduate of both Queen's University and Trinity College Dublin, Dr Ellis was ordained in 1977 for the curacy of St Columba's, Portadown, and served a second curacy in St Mark's, Armagh where he was chaplain to the Royal School.
In 1985, he was appointed rector of Mullavilly in the Diocese of Armagh, and since 1993 has been rector of Newcastle, Co Down.
Last year, the Bishop of Down and Dromore appointed him to a canonry in Belfast Cathedral.
He is well known for his commitment to the cause of ecumenism having been honorary secretary of the General Synod's Committee for Christian Unity and co-chairman of the Irish inter-church meeting's department of social issues.
He is currently president of the Irish Council of Churches and a member of the Anglican Consultative Council's ecumenical advisory group.
Evidently, Dr Ellis will bring a wide range of skills to one of the most important posts in the Church of Ireland. Like it or loathe it, the Gazette is a vital part of the communication structure of the Church of Ireland and one of the Church's most significant historical continuums.
Founded in 1856 as the Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette, (it changed title in 1900) the Gazette predates all other Church of Ireland publications - the diocesan magazines, the Church of Ireland Directory and the Journal of the General Synod. It is an essential source for any historical examination of the Church of Ireland from the mid-19th century onwards and it is vital it continues to record and interpret the diversity of the life of the church.
Dr Ellis, who will continue in his post as rector of Newcastle, will succeed the present editor, Canon Cecil Cooper, on October 1st.
Today and tomorrow the services in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will be sung by the Priory Singers from Ipswich. Tomorrow, the Bishop of Tuam, Dr Richard Henderson, will visit Errislannan, while in Clonmacnoise there will be a celebration of the Eucharist at 4 p.m.
On Thursday, the lunchtime recital in St Ann's Church, Dublin, will be given by Dr Stanley Monkhouse who is organist in St Ann's. In Castletownshend, Co Cork, the annual festival of classical music continues in St Barrahane's Church where there will be a concert by Anuna.
Millennium funding has been secured to floodlight Turlough parish church and the round tower. The church, described by Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland as "a neat edifice in the later English style", is outside Castlebar and is part of a group of parishes based on Westport, where the rector is the Rev Gary Hastings.