The first woman Chancellor's Vicar of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, was installed yesterday. The Rev Bernadette Daly, curate of Christ Church, Taney, Dundrum, was installed at a ceremony in St Patrick's Cathedral.
The Rev William Stewart, minister at St Catherine's Church, Thomas Street, and the Rev Lynda Peilow, curate of Castle knock, were appointed minor canons. Ms Peilow is the first woman minor canon in the cathedral's history.
The existence of a College of Minor Canons is a remarkable feature of the constitution of St Patrick's. It was founded by Archbishop Richard Talbot in 1432. Though confirmed by Pope Eugenius IV in 1443, it did not come into effect until 1461. A minor canon ranks after major canons but before vicars.
Duties assigned to the minor canons differed considerably at different times, but according to the terms of their charter, they have always been priests.
Next Sunday, the Ven Patrick Lawrence will be installed as Prebendary of Monmohenock, made vacant on the election of the Very Rev Robert MacCarthy as Dean of St Patrick's.
