Dean of Saint Patrick's since September 1999, Robert MacCarthy has been an outspoken cleric in the Church of Ireland throughout his career. In this book a selection of his sermons are brought together for the first time. As the author himself says in the preface: 'An important function of the preacher has always been to present the deeper thoughts of theologians and religious thinkers whether implicitly or explicitly in a form that can be apprehended by the laity; my home is that this is true of the addresses here'.
This collection differs from books that were published by previous incumbents of the position. Richard Large and Roy Warke's books dealt solely with scripture, while Maurice Stewart's books were confined to sermons preached solely as dean of St Patrick's. Canon MacCarthy's book contains material covering the liturgical year as well as reflecting his experiences of ministry in towns and counties in Ireland and Britain since his ordination in 1979.
At times controversial, these sermons illustrate the human side of a man who has responsibility for the capital's second Protestant cathedral.
Robert MacCarthy is the dean of St Patrick's cathedral, Dublin. He is the author of A short history of the Church of Ireland (1995, second printing, 2000).
