Decanal Installation

Quite recently I wrote about the original design for the cathedral church to succeed St Anne's parish church, Donegall Street, Belfast.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Anne in Belfast, more commonly known as Belfast Cathedral, has a peculiar status.

The Lord Bishop of Connor is the Ordinary, because the Cathedral is in the diocese of Connor, County Antrim.

The Lord Bishop of Down and Dromore, however, also has an episcopal throne, or cathedra, in the Cathedral.

So it is shared between two dioceses (three if Dromore is included).

The original design for the new cathedral, at the turn of the 19th century, was rather grand.

The intention was to have an elaborate bell tower and a lady chapel at the extreme east end.

In fact there was a greatly modified design at a later period which, too, did not come to fruition.

Clearly these schemes were thwarted in the fullness of time by financial constraints.

Yesterday I attended the installation service for the fourteenth Dean of Belfast, the Very Reverend Stephen Forde.

The ceremony was led by the Bishop of Connor, the Right Reverend Alan Abernethy.

Dozens of diocesan clergy were in attendance; and the former Archbishop of Armagh, the Right Reverend Alan Harper OBE.

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Sonia Copeland, represented the citizens of Belfast.

The Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP and the Mayor of Larne, Councillor Paul Reid, were also at the service.

Very Rev Stephen Forde with Mrs Jay-O'Boyle

The Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast (the tenth holder of that office), Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE, represented Her Majesty The Queen.

New Dean of Belfast

The Board of Nomination has approved the nomination of the Venerable Stephen Forde, Archdeacon of Dalriada, in the diocese of Connor, to be appointed to the Deanery of the Cathedral Church of Saint Anne, Belfast, on the resignation of the Very Reverend John Mann.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Ven Stephen Forde, Rector of Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo, is a native of Rathfriland, County Down, and later lived in Downpatrick and attended Campbell College in Belfast.

He gained a degree in architecture at Edinburgh University before training in theology at the Church of Ireland Theology College, Dublin.

The Archdeacon was ordained in 1986 and was curate at St Mary's, Crumlin Road, Belfast, until 1989 when he was appointed Chaplain, or Dean of Residence, at the Queen's University of Belfast.

Furthermore, he was a minor canon of Belfast Cathedral, from 1989-91.

In 1995, he was appointed Rector of Booterstown and Mount Merrion in the diocese of Dublin, and during this time was Chaplain to UCD and Chaplain to Blackrock Clinic.

He returned to Connor in 1999 as Rector of Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo, and was appointed to the rural deanery of Carrickfergus in 2001.

The Archdeacon is married to Fiona, a staff nurse at Antrim Hospital. They have three children.

Finnebrogue Beating Retreat

Finnebrogue House

On Friday evening, the 23rd June, 2017, two hundred friends and supporters of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland came to Finnebrogue, near Downpatrick, County Down, for a fundraising Beating Retreat.

I was abroad at the time so, alas, I was unable to be there.

Noel Lamb, of Finnebrogue House, is Chairman of the Trustees of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland.

Beating Retreat, or Beating to Quarters, has its origins in the early years of organised warfare, when the beating of drums and the parading of post guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day.

The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment played a selection of music, both military and classical pieces.

There was a wide range of guests at the event, including the Lord-Lieutenants for County Down and Belfast; the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and his predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE; the Earl of Erne; the Chairman of the CBI, the Principal-elect of the Belfast Royal Academy, members of the police and the local community.

The programme for the evening included the band playing Scipio by Handel, the Soldiers Chorus from Faust, the Army of the Nile and various cavalry marches.

The Pipes and Drums played the Rowan Tree, the Green Hills of Tyrol, the Gael and Highland Cathedral.

The weather was ominous and threatened rain, but the sun came out just before the band played “Sunset” and the National Anthem.

It cast wonderful long evening shadows on the front lawn and glinted off the helmets.

Mr Noel Lamb pictured with the Earl of Erne (a Trustee of Hope For Youth NI), the Commanding Officer and the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr David Lindsay, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mrs Lindsay, and Captain Andrew Moncrieff, Adjutant of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr Noel Lamb with the Bandmaster, Band Sergeant-Major and Drum Major of the Royal Irish Regiment.

The sun shone as Sunset and the National Anthem were played.

Even a "selfie" was taken with two of the guests, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and His Grace's predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE.

Troopers of the Royal Dragoon Guards stood to attention as guests arrived.

The band of the Royal Irish Regiment paraded on the front lawn.

As did the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Coronation Reminiscences

In 1953, the Lady Moyra Hamilton (1930-2020) (Lady Moyra Campbell CVO, sister of the present Duke of Abercorn) walked up the aisle of Westminster Abbey behind the soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth II - one of just six Maids of Honour.

Lady Moyra kept her Norman Hartnell gown, her beautiful long white gloves and the glittering tiara - souvenirs of a day that stands out in a life-time.

Lady Moyra, who lived in Randalstown, County Antrim, said it was one of the "most thrilling days of a lifetime."

"Television made it a world-wide happening. You felt that everybody was there and with this very young lady who was making these incredibly solemn promises which she has fulfilled with the utmost grace and integrity for 60 years. 

"There were so many highlights. The amazing feeling in the abbey; the incredible prayerfulness throughout and the sight of all those crowds who had been waiting in appalling weather all night; some of them had been there overnight, others had been there from early the day before. 

"The rain was teeming down and yet there was this joyful feeling and the abbey was full of people from all over the globe."

All this happened in the days when not everyone had a television set at home, she said, and people invited others to cluster around their sets, gathering in living rooms across the country to watch the glamour and the ceremony, to toast the new young Queen.

The Queen's maids of honour had a rehearsal where they practised holding the long train which had six secret silk handles.

"We met the coach on arrival, from then on, we were holding the train because it was very very long," said Lady Moyra.

"The mistress of the robes, the Queen's senior female servant, was in charge of us. She had to officiate when the train came off and the Queen had this very simple white linen dress put over her highly embroidered dress for the sacred anointing of the oil that has gone on from time immemorial.

"We heard the Queen Mother whispering to Prince Charles, telling him what was happening. He behaved impeccably. It was a lovely moment," she said.

Later back at the palace, he and Princess Anne were running about.

"He was wearing his father's hair lotion to smooth his hair and we had to sniff it and admire it," she laughed.

Other proud moments stand out in that day, 2 June, 1953.

"In the morning, before I was collected, we all had to have make-up put on. Just as the lady was putting on the make-up, someone burst into the room and said: 'Thrilling news, Mount Everest has been conquered. Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing have conquered Mount Everest. 

"I was so excited that the tears poured down my cheeks and the poor lady had to have a quick mopping up of the mascara, replacing it. I heard rumours later that the news had been kept back for the day, but it was a wonderful feeling."

The maids of honour had very long gloves and were given capsules which contained a substance like smelling salts in case any of them became faint.

"Anne Coke did begin to droop and I was able to crush the thing and it let out an enormously strong smell but she gallantly revived," she explained.

For Lady Moyra, the day always stood out as a wonderful occasion. She kept her gown in a darkened room and it is still very beautiful.

"Hopefully, I will be able to make the dress available for people to see ... Any schools who wish to bring their pupils can do so, as long as it is somewhere where it can be well protected against eager fingers," she said.

She hoped to raise money too, for charities that help young people.

First published in April, 2012.

New Bishop

 ARMS OF THE BISHOPRIC OF MEATH 
Three mitres labelled

The Church of Ireland, part of the Anglican communion, has appointed its first female bishop.

The Rev Patricia (Pat) Storey, rector of St Augustine's Church in Londonderry, is to be the Most Rev the Lord Bishop of Meath and Kildare.

The diocese of Meath is traditionally the premier bishopric in the Church of Ireland and the bishop is styled Most Reverend.


The House of Bishops meeting yesterday in Dublin appointed the Revd Pat (Patricia) Storey to succeed The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, who is now Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan.

The Rev Pat Storey is currently Rector of St Augustine’s Parish Church, Londonderry. She said:

‘I am both excited and daunted by this new adventure in our lives. I have had an extraordinarily happy experience in St Augustine’s and in this wonderful city which I will be sad to leave. However, I count it an enormous privilege to begin a new phase of my ministry with the people of Meath and Kildare, and I look forward to working with the team of clergy who are already there. I would sincerely ask for your prayers for myself and my family, who are the best family in the world!’

The Rev Pat (53) has been Rector of St Augustine’s, Londonderry (Derry and Raphoe) since 2004. She is married to the Rev Earl Storey and has two adult children, Carolyn and Luke, and a son-in-law Peter.

Having grown up in Belfast and studied French and English at Trinity College, Dublin, she trained at the Church of Ireland Theological College (now Institute) and was ordained deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998.

She served a curacy in Ballymena (Connor) and was a team vicar in Glenavy (Connor) and a part-time youth worker co-ordinator with the Church of Ireland Youth Department.

Among Central Church participation, she is a member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod.

Mrs Storey becomes the first woman to be appointed a bishop in the Church of Ireland.

The consecration of the new bishop will take place in due course, followed by enthronement in the diocesan cathedrals thereafter.

New Archbishop

The Most Reverend Dr Richard Lionel Clarke, 105th Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, following his enthronement at Armagh Cathedral on the 15th December, 2012, with the Right Honourable Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The Archbishop chose not to wear the cope and mitre on this occasion.

I should like to put a question to readers: Where did archbishops of Armagh live ~ did they have an official residence ~ prior to 1770? I gather that they lived mainly in Drogheda and Dublin, though they must have had a residence at Armagh.

I really must pay a visit to the city of Armagh and stay for a few days. 

Primatial Installation

The Most Reverend Richard Lionel Clarke shall be enthroned as Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan tomorrow, Saturday, 15th December, 2012.

Dr Clarke, a widowed father of two from Dublin and 105th in the succession of abbots, bishops and archbishops of Armagh since St Patrick, will be enthroned at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.

He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and King’s College London.

The Archbishop-Elect began his career as a curate at Holywood, County Down; worked in Dublin, as dean in residence at Trinity; Dean of Cork; and Perth in Scotland.

Dr Clarke's wife Linda died in 2009, and he has a son and daughter, both of whom are medical doctors; and an 18-months-old grandson.

He lists poetry, biography and both classical and jazz music among his loves and has a keen interest in sport, especially rugby, cricket (Worcestershire County Cricket Club) and is an avid Arsenal football supporter.

Since becoming a bishop, he has been the author of two books - one on Christian belief 'And is it true?', and the other - 'A Whisper of God' - on the witness of the Christian in the world of today.

The future Lord Primate, who owns a 1979 MG sports car, will bring it to Armagh, along with his boxer dog.

It is expected that Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, the Earl of Caledon; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and many other personages, civic and spiritual, will be in attendance.

Colonel Maundrell

Richard Kay reports this morning that Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Maundrell MVO is about to become affianced.

Colonel Maundrell, Grenadier Guards and ex-equerry to The Duke of Edinburgh, has been head of the Queen's University of Belfast's Officer Training Corps.

Dropping through the letterboxes at Buckingham Palace and Gatcombe Park shortly will be a wedding invitation from Prince Philip’s former equerry Lt Col Richard Maundrell, a Grenadier Guards officer.

Richard, 47, known as Tricky to pals, has proposed to Scots beauty Lucy Cameron of Lochiel, 32.

She is a goddaughter of Princess Anne and works for a specialist travel company for Chinese tourists, after spending three years there.

Lucy’s sister, Catherine, was a bridesmaid at Prince Charles’s marriage to Lady Diana Spencer and Richard worked at the Duke of Edinburgh’s right hand for three years until 2009.

Says a friend: ‘He is tall and handsome and will leave a lot of broken hearts behind.’ 

A popular figure in the Royal Household, Maundrell, then a mere major, was invited to spend summers at Balmoral where he became a dab hand at barbecuing.

Adds the pal: ‘Despite his nickname, he isn’t the least bit tricky.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247305/RICHARD-KAY-Brigitte-Nielsen-How-I-battled-beat-booze.html#ixzz2Ev6TfZpW

The Baroness Thatcher

THE BARONESS THATCHER LG OM PC

Lady Thatcher is 87 today.

The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda [Thatcher], Baroness Thatcher, Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Member of the Order of Merit, One of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.

Lady Thatcher's coat-of-arms is illustrated at the top, including the coronet of a peer of the fifth degree; and the badge of the Order of Merit, suspended below.

Neuberger Appointment

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Right Honourable David Edmond [Neuberger], Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury PC, as a Justice and President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom upon the retirement of The Rt Hon the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers in September 2012.

Lord Neuberger was appointed as Master of the Rolls with effect from 1 October 2009.

The Master of the Rolls is the Head of Civil Justice and the second most senior judge in England and Wales.

Ducal Party

 

The Duke of Westminster is throwing a momentous party at his seat, Eaton Hall, for the 21st birthday of his son and heir Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, on January 29, 2012.

The Duke was born at Omagh, County Tyrone, and brought up at Ely Lodge estate in County Fermanagh.

More than 500 guests are expected, including Hugh Grosvenor's godfather, The Prince of Wales. 

Lord Grosvenor's sisters are Lady Edwina, married to TV’s Dan Snow, and Lady Tamara, wife of Edward van Cutsem, another of Prince Charles's godsons. 

It comes a month after the Duke’s 60th birthday (22nd December!). He plans to install specially designed decorative gates at Eaton Hall to mark his, and his son’s, birthdays.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2086084/Melissa-Porter-strips-underwear-new-book.html#ixzz1jM3ghx5n

Paddy the Biker!

Richard Kay, the columnist, tells us about the antics of Lord Clanwilliam, a friend of HM The King of Bahrain. The 6th Earl of Clanwilliam was Paddy Clanwilliam's cousin twice removed and lived at Montalto, near Ballynahinch, in County Down:

When King Hamad of Bahrain flew into Heathrow this week on a charm-offensive, which included meeting David Cameron at Downing Street, he was anxious to make a good impression.

Alas, the visit took an unexpected turn after the King’s long-standing friend the Earl of Clanwilliam, better known as Old Etonian public relations smoothie Paddy Gillford, chose to meet the monarch at the airport on a Harley-Davidson which has the Bahraini flag painted on in camp Priscilla Queen Of The Desert-style.

The police, I am told, were not keen on the PR man joining the convoy into central London. But he was permitted to follow the entourage, which had police outriders escorting the party up the M4.

But disaster struck at Earls Court where there was a collision between Gillford’s motorcycle and the limousine transporting Bahrain’s ambassador to London, Alice Samaan, who only last week presented her credentials to the Queen.

Although shaken by the accident, which happened on Tuesday, by yesterday she and her staff were light-heartedly referring to it as a ‘diplomatic incident’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074873/RICHARD-KAY-How-Earl-crashed-Kings-party.html#ixzz1ggdPMteE

Duchess of Alba

Congratulations to the Most Excellent the Duchess of Alba de Tormes, who is to re-marry today, I have learned.  It is said that the extremely wealthy Duchess is to marry a civil servant 24 years her junior.

According to Guinness World Records, the Duchess - whose full name is Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva - has more titles recognised by an existing government than any other nobility.

She has wealth to match, with estates, palaces and treasures including art masterpieces estimated to be worth up to £3 billion.

A mere 30-60 people are thought to be attending the lunchtime service today in the chapel of the Duchess's 15th century Palacio de las Duenas in Seville, Spain.

David, Earl of Cardigan

The Daily Telegraph reports that Lord Cardigan, a courtesy lord and heir to the 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, is locked in an extraordinary legal battle with the trustees who have taken him to court claiming he is attempting to sell off the family silver to raise funds.

The two Trustees are Messrs Wilson Cotton and John Moore.

The so-called Savernake Club, the nucleus of which shall be Tottenham House, will open for business in 2015.

It is stated that Lord Cardigan owns 4,000 acres in Wiltshire at the heart of which lies Tottenham House, a Georgian mansion worth an estimated £8 million. 

Earlier this month a judge made an order temporarily preventing him selling estate "chattels" after his own barrister described him as a 'down and out' who needed to sell a set of antique silver bowls to 'put food on the table'.

Lord Cardigan claims that the Trustees are letting the house fall into a state of disrepair.

He said rainwater was pouring through his bathroom ceiling in Tottenham House and that he is being forced to use buckets to catch drops. An electrician described the wiring as “dangerous” and plaster is “hanging off the walls”, he claimed.

He further claimed he had been forced to take out an injunction to prevent a recent sale at Sotheby’s in his home on the estate.

  “It’s using up most of my cash trying to get rid of the trustees, and what makes it worse is that one of them used to be my best friend.
“I asked them for the accounts but they didn’t send them.
“I felt I couldn’t restore order from America so I had to come back. They have perpetrated such horrors that I will not rest until I have seized back control of the estate.
“If necessary I will break the bank to get rid of them. I shall not rest until I’ve unhorsed those two."

 The family name is synonymous with the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.

At a related legal hearing at the High Court last week, a judge was told that Lord Cardigan was "to all intents and purposes down and out" and needed to raise money or "go hungry”.

But David Cardigan claims the trustees were trying to sell paintings to pay for work because they could not raise money from the bank because they have undervalued Tottenham House at "merely" £3m.

However, he told the Daily Telegraph:

“I attempted to sell 12 silver entrée dishes. We have a large collection and they are not used from one century to the next. When they built the place they bought these things in sets of 100. They were made for the house. They’re worth about £12,000. I needed the money to stop the trustees.”

He declined to disclose how much he had spent on legal fees but added: “I’m a bit pushed in ready cash but not in any sense down and out.”

18th Duchess of Alba

By Jove, the Duchess of Alba has more titles than Dame Agatha has written novels! I say this because the Duchess is re-marrying in the autumn of her life, at eighty-five years old.

She was born on March 28, 1926, at the Liria Palace, Madrid. The Duchess is the daughter of the 17th Duke.


The Daily Telegraph has an article about her, including many photographs. Granted, she is no beauty now; though the Duchess was prettier in her younger days, believe it or not.

The Most Excellent The Duchess of Alba de Tormes'  titles include:

Titles, styles and honours

Titles

Dukedoms

• 18th Duchess of Alba, Grandee of Spain
• 17th Duchess of Híjar, Grandee of Spain
• 15th Duchess of Aliaga, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Alfonso Martínez
• 11th Duchess of Montoro, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her daughter Doña Eugenia
• 11th Duchess of Berwick, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
• 3rd Duchess of Arjona, Grandee of Spain

Countship-Dukedom

• 12th Countess-Duchess of Olivares, Grandee of Spain

Marquesates

• 17th Marquesa of the Carpio, Grandee of Spain
• 10th Marquesa of San Vicente del Barco, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Fernando
• 16th Marquesa of la Albaga
• 16th Marquesa of Almenara
• 18th Marquesa of Barcarrota
• 10th Marquesa of Castañeda
• 23rd Marquesa of Coria
• 14th Marquesa of Eliche
• 16th Marquesa of Mirallo
• 20th Marquesa of la Mota
• 20th Marquesa of Moya
• 17th Marquesa of Orani
• 12th Marquesa of Osera
• 14th Marquesa of San Leonardo
• 19th Marquesa of Sarria
• 12th Marquesa of Tarazona
• 15th Marquesa of Valdunquillo
• 18th Marquesa of Villanueva del Fresno
• 17th Marquesa of Villanueva del Río

Countships

• 27th Countess of Aranda, Grandee of Spain
• 22nd Countess of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
• 20th Countess of Lerín, Grandee of Spain, Constabless of Navarre
• 20th Countess of Miranda del Castañar, Grandee of Spain
• 16th Countess of Monterrey, Grandee of Spain
• 20th Countess of Osorno, Grandee of Spain
• 18th Countess of Palma del Río, Grandee of Spain
• 12th Countess of Salvatierra, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Cayetano
• 22nd Countess of Siruela, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Jacobo
• 19th Countess of Andrade
• 14th Countess of Ayala
• 16th Countess of Casarrubios del Monte
• 16th Countess of Fuentes de Valdepero
• 11th Countess of Fuentidueña
• 17th Countess of Galve
• 18th Countess of Gelves
• 16th Countess of Guimerá
• Countess of Modica (Kingdom of Sicily)
• 24th Countess of Ribadeo
• 25th Countess of San Esteban de Gormaz
• 12th Countess of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• 11th Countess of Tinmouth
• 20th Countess of Villalba

Viscountcies

• 12th Viscountess of la Calzada

Baronies

• 11th Baroness of Bosworth

Manorials

• 29th Lady of Moguer

Dame Mary

I encountered the delightful Dame Mary Peters in Belfast today. I introduced myself and did allude - in passing - to Lord Belmont!

How lovely Dame Mary is, so charming and the warmth of her personality truly shines through.

The last time I met Dame Mary was indeed many, many summers ago; and, furthermore, young Lord Sydenham was wearing short trousers. Ha!

Dame Mary Peters DBE is HM Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast.

Exemplary Lord Hutton

A fellow Old Brackenbrian, whom I saw at the annual old boys' bash in the Europa Hotel a mere week ago, has hit the headlines.

How admirable, charitable, altruistic ... I could go on. Brian Hutton (the Right Honourable the Lord Hutton PC), a former Law Lord and Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, is helping at a church hall in west ­London, where he can be found working at a homeless shelter.

According to an article by the columnist Richard Kay in the Daily Mail, he helps to cook meals and hand out roll-up mattresses to the 30 or so men and women at the centre.

When on duty, he wears a hand-written tag marked simply with his first name, Brian. ‘Most people have no clue who he is or that he once sat in the highest court in the land,’ Kay is told.

Twice-married Hutton attends one of seven refuges set up under the auspices of West London Churches Homeless Concern.

‘He is there most weeks when he is in London,’ adds Kay's source. ‘On one occasion, Lord Hutton was chopping the carrots and peeling the spuds before even the cook had got to work.’

As well as helping with the food, Hutton talks at length with those staying at the shelter, many of whom suffer from mental health problems.

Barony of Empey

I see that Sir Reg Empey has been gazetted with other working peers in the Conservative interest as, to afford him his full legal syle, the Right Honourable Reginald Norman Morgan, Baron Empey, OBE MLA, of Shandon in the City of Belfast; or, more simply, Lord Empey, informally and socially.

Lord Empey is granted a Life Barony and his children are entitled to the prefix Honourable (Hon) before their Christian names.

Baron Fellowes of West Stafford

I am delighted to learn that Julian Fellowes, now newly ennobled as the Right Honourable Julian Alexander, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, DL, will take his seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer later.

Lord Fellowes, who has been granted a life peerage, takes the territorial part of his title from the Dorset village where he lives.

While taking the oath, Lord Fellowes is set to be flanked by his supporters, the Lord Northbrook and the Lord Marland.

At the beginning of the ceremony he will process into the House of Lords following the acting Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher Ted Lloyd-Jukes, and the Garter Principal King of Arms, Thomas Woodcock.

A clerk will then read out Lord Fellowes' Letters Patent, a document issued by the Queen granting a new life peerage, before he swears an oath or makes a solemn affirmation and then signs up to the code of conduct for peers.

Church News

I have received the following message from the Very Reverend Dr Houston McKelvey OBE QVRM TD, Dean of Belfast:-

"We have launched a new web site at churchnewsireland.org
It may be of interest to some of your blog readers.
Thanks, Houston"

I should like to express my compliments to the Dean and I wish him all that he wishes himself on his retirement in several months' time.