Bill No 7, presented to the General Synod this afternoon, makes provision for the appointment of Ecumenical Canons of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. These canons will be known as the prebendaries of Clondalkin and Finglas, two of the original prebends of the 1911 foundation which have been subsequently subsumed.

Proposed by the Revd Canon Trevor Williams (Connor) this Bill requires the amendment of Chapter VII of the Constitution and will result in the appointment of not more than two canons who can hold office for a term of five years and may be invited by the Dean to say Morning or Evening Prayer, read the Holy Scriptures at any service and assist at a Baptismal, Marriage, Funeral Service or at the Celebration of the Holy Communion.

The Bill was formally seconded by the Very Revd Leslie Forrest (Ferns).

Two amendments to this Bill were tabled today. The first, an amendment to Clause 2, Section 24A (4) after the word ‘duties’ the following shall be inserted, namely, ‘insofar as the same are consonant with the provisions of Canon 10.’ A second amendment to paragraph 1 of the Declaration in the Second Schedule the words after ‘I am’ be deleted and replaced with the words ‘a minister or accredited preacher of _______ Church.’

This Bill, together with these two amendments, was approved and will receive its Third Reading on Thursday.