IT’S one of those stories that you just couldn’t make up and, even if you did, no one would really believe you. It might read a bit like an idea for a TV drama, but the difference, on this occasion at least, is it is all absolutely true. For me the events start at the altar of the ancient parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Burnham-on-Crouch. Picture the scene. It is Saturday, June 22, 1946, and the vicar, the Rev Williams, is conducting one of a number of post-war wedding ceremonies. Before him is a debonair, 36-year-old, uniformed RAF wing commander with a chest full of medals.
The institution of the new rector of the Church of Ireland Mallow Union of Parishes, Reverend Meurig Williams recently took place on the Feast of the Epiphany at Cork s St Fin Barre s Cathedral.
The service, which was held without a congregation and streamed online, was led by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton accompanied by the Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson and the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.
Addressing the online congregations during the ceremony Dr Colton said that one of the aspects of the pandemic we have had to get used to is things not going to plan .