St. Patrick 15th Centenary Memorial - Church of Ireland commemorative badge (1932)

The 1,500th anniversary of the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland in 432 AD was celebrated by both the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland during 1932. For the Catholic Church in Ireland, this event was celebrated through the 31st International Eucharistic Congress in June of that same year.

 

What's less well-known and overshadowed by the Eucharistic Congress, is that the Church of Ireland (CoI) also held their own commemorations to celebrate the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland during 1932. But did so more discretely and in an atmosphere of introspection, examining how the CoI fitted into an Irish Christian and Celtic lineage which extended back to the time of St. Patrick. Their Conference was held in October of the same year and represented the CoI’s culmination of the commemorations on the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland. The Conference also provided a forum for the CoI, that they “may review the evidence of our spiritual heritage” and to identify themselves with the history and traditions of a “Celtic Church”. A cursory look at the schedule of Conference lectures (listed below) is testament to how the Church of Ireland wanted to see itself in a “modern” Ireland beset with the problems of the time.

 

This badge was issued during 1932 and shows a scene from the traditional legend of St. Patrick, who is depicted banishing the snakes from Ireland. I found no reference of this badge elsewhere and wonder if this was an official issue?

 

Another badge similar to this one was sold on eBay 11th June 2016 (Seller; tievenadara1946, Item 381556348232). These enamel badges are rare.

 

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Planned events for the Church of Ireland’s commemorations:

 

In September 1930, the CoI established an executive committee representing all the Irish Dioceses and who began preparations for the commemoration of the 15th centenary of the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland. Sub-committees within individual dioceses were also established to plan for celebrations at a local level and for people unable to make it to the main events at Saul, Downpatrick or Dublin. All official celebrations would commence from St. Patrick’s Day in 1932. Events included:

 

• A General Synod to open at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day 1932.

• Thanksgiving & Remembrance Services with special prayers. Main commemorative services were held during June 1932 at St. Patrick’s Cathedrals in Armagh, Dublin, at Belfast and in the parishes of Saul and Downpatrick.

• Open-air pageants celebrating the life of St. Patrick were staged at Saul and Downpatrick, as well as an indoor pageant later held in Dublin. The Dublin pageant took place in the Mansion House from 15th to the 21st October and followed on from CoI Conference being held there.

• Lantern lectures accompanied by magic-lantern slides and typed text pages were hired out to parishes. The author of the lectures were George Annesley Ruth and the Rev. William Elder Vandeleur. There were three lecture sets available for hire; 1) St. Partick: His Life and Times illustrated with some 60 slides, 2) The Missionary Traditions of the Irish Church from the earliest times to the present day accompanied by 40 slides and 3) The Continuity of the Church of Ireland with the Early Irish Church as illustrated by its Sacred Sites.

• Publications in both pamphlet and book form about the Life of St. Patrick and the 15th centenary Memorial commemorations were produced. The leading publication was a book on the life of St. Patrick written by the Rev. Canon George Chamberlain.

• Miscellaneous items were also produced such as cloth flags in various sizes and posters.

• A CoI Conference was held in the Round Room and adjoining hall of the Mansion House from the 11th to the 14th October 1932. Included was a series of theological and historical lectures. A pageant on the life of St. Patrick followed on from the Conference.

 

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Fund raising for the commemorations:

 

The Committee also arranged for a fund-raising drive, with a target to raise a £1,000 for the Commemoration Fund and any surplus would be donated towards the building of a new St. Patrick Memorial Church at Saul in Northern Ireland. Saul is reputed as the landing place of St. Patrick when he arrived in Ireland. Methods of fund raising included;

 

• Special collections at all services across the country on St. Patrick’s Day.

• The sale of the official button badge depicting the Saltaire of St. Patrick, a red X-shaped cross on a white background. These badges were sold at 2d each (two pence) and the clergy were asked to promote the sale of these badges in their parishes, as well as encouraging their church-goers to wear them.

• Publication of literature connected with the event for public sale. A book on the life of St. Patrick was specially published and sold at one shilling (paperback) or 1s 6d (one shilling & six pence) for the cloth-bound version. Various titles of educational pamphlets were also produced for sale at one penny each.

• ‘Magic Lantern’ slides and lecture text were hired out to the parishes at 10s 6d per set.

• Church Flags depicting the Saltaire of St. Patrick were produced in various sizes for use on church towers and other buildings. These were also available for public sale at prices from 4s 6d upwards.

• CoI Conference held at the Mansion House in Dublin during October was a ticketed event. A ‘season ticket’ cost 5/- (5 shillings), 1/- for day sessions and 6d (6 pence) for evening sessions.

• Pageants acting out the Life of St. Patrick had admission charges at 2s 6d (2 shillings & 6 pence) and 1/- (one shilling).

 

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References:

 

www.ireland.anglican.org/news/6364/the-church-of-ireland-... (A good account of material published by the Church of Ireland for the 15th Centenary Memorial Commemorations of St. Patrick’s arrival in Ireland).

 

issuu.com/churchofireland/docs/item1a (Church of Ireland Commemoration of St. Patrick, 1932, a 4pp pamphlet dated February 25th 1931).

 

issuu.com/churchofireland/docs/march2013-a (The Fifteenth Hundredth Anniversary of the Coming of St. Patrick to Ireland - a Handbook of celebrations, lectures and Literature).

 

issuu.com/churchofireland/docs/march2013-b (Church of Ireland Conference October 11th-14th 1932 - Official Handbook. The handbook gives a list of all the talks, short biographical notes on the speakers and a listing of the pageant play scenes, persons involved in its production and a dramatis personae.)

 

old.ireland.anglican.org/about/201 (In 2014 further lantern slides used to illustrate the 1932 lectures were recovered from the Deanery of St. Patrick Cathedral in Dublin. This article also includes links to the full text of each of the three lectures and pictures of some of the slides.)

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick

 

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Lecture schedule for Church of Ireland Conference, October 1932 – as per Conference Handbook:

 

Tuesday, 11th October 1932 – ST. PATRICK

• Conversazione held in Dining Hall of Trinity College Dublin. All lectures below took place at the Mansion House in Dawson Street nearby.

• St. Patrick, His Person and History: Rev Canon G. A. Chamberlain B.D.

• St. Patrick, His Environment: E.H. Alton, Litt.D., F.T.C.D.. T.D.

• St. Patrick, Sacred Sites: The Very Rev W.P. Carmody M.A., dean of Down.

• St. Patrick, His Teaching: The Ven W.S. Kerr B.D., Archdeacon of Dromore.

 

Wednesday morning, 12th October – THE ANCIENT IRISH PERIOD

• The Relation between the Early Irish Church and the Church of the West: The Rev Canon N.J.D. White D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin.

• The Early Irish Church and Paganism: E.J. Gwynn Litt. D., Provost of Trinity College Dublin.

• Early Irish Monasticism: H.C. Lawlor M.A.

• Religious and Literary Movements within Ireland of the 9th Century: Robin E.W. Flower D.Litt. Celt; Deputy Keeper Department of Manuscripts, British Museum.

• Celtic Christianity: The Rev J.L. Gough Meissner M.A.

 

Wesnesday evening, 12th October – THE RELIGIOUS WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

• Its Missionary Witness: The Right Rev H. Vere White D.D., Bishop of Limerick; The Right Rev J. Godfrey Day D.D., Bishop of Ossory.

• Its Theological Witness in pre-Reformation Times: The Rev Canon J.E.L. Oulton B.D., Archbishop King’s Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin.

• Its Theological Witness in post-Reformation Times: The Rev T.C. Hammond M.A.

 

Thursday morning, 13th October – THE MEDIEVAL, REFORMATION AND POST-REFORMATION PERIODS

• The Medieval Period: The Ven St. John D. Seymour Litt.D., Archdeacon of Cashel.

• The Reformation Period: The Rev Canon G.V. Jourdan D.D.

• Three post-Reformation Leaders of the Church: D.A. Chart Litt.D., Public Record Office, Belfast.

 

Thursday afternoon, 13th October – IRISH SESSION (conducted wholly in Gaelic)

• The Bible and the Book of Common Prayer in Irish and their earliest Translators: The Rev P. Quigley B.A.

• Other speakers: The Rev J.B. Shea B.A.; The Rev M.W. Naughton; G.A. Ruth B.A.

 

Thursday evening, 13th October – THE MORAL WITNESS OF THE IRISH CHURCH

• War and Peace: The Right Rev J.F. McNiece D.D., Bishop of Cashel.

• Gambling: The Rev Bolton C. Waller M.A.

• Tolerance: Senator Sir John Keane Bart.

• Social Service: The Rev Professor R.M. Gwynn B.D., F.T.C.D.; The Very Rev H.B. Kennedy B.D., Dean of Christ Church.

 

Friday morning, 14th October – THE CHURCH OF IRELAND TODAY

• Church and State: W.E. Thrift M.A., S.F.T.C.D., T.D.

• Church Building since Disestablishment: His Honor Judge Thompson, Recorder of Belfast.

• Primary Education: The Rev E.C. Hodges B.D., Principal of the Church of Ireland Training College.

• Secondary Education: The Rev C.B. Armstrong B.D., Warden of St. Columba’s College.

• The Administration of the Poor Law: Miss S.C. Harrison.

 

Friday evening, 14th October – CLOSING SERVICE at 8pm.

 

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Enamels: 1 (blue).

Finish: Gilt.

Material: Brass.

Fixer: Pin.

Size: 7/8” diameter (23mm).

Process: Die stamped.

Imprint: No maker’s name or mark. This badge carries the Déanta i nÉirinn (Made in Ireland) national trademark.

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/D%C3%A9anta_...

 

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Stuart Williams

25th November 2016

Done