Vicki’s Corner

We have heard that every one who attended the 2009 Belleek Convention had a great time. There were 150 that attended. Many of the side trips were taken and enjoyed.

Bob & I are sorry we didn't attend but we had already purchased our tickets for our Ireland trip.

We were able to attend the May meeting of the Northern Ireland Belleek Collector’s Chapter and we thank them for the very warm welcome they gave us.

We attended the unveiling of the new Belleek Stained Windows at "The Church Of Ireland in Belleek". There is a separate article on it. They also had a flower show with many pieces of Belleek included.

I also want to thank everyone for the auction pieces and for fantastic amount that we were able to contribute to the Richard K. Degenhardt Scholarship Fund.

Our next meeting is in Lake Mary on July 18, 2009. See you then.

Secretary’s Report.

Vicki Pearce called the meeting to order about 1:30pm. There were 19 members present. She introduced new chapter members Adi and Dave Brann to the membership. Adi, with historical roots to Belleek and Ballyshannon, had contacted the Sunshine Chapter through the website in October and joined the chapter in November.

The treasurer’s report was read and accepted. Vicki then covered Waterford Glass’s closing in Waterford, IE.

The meeting was adjourned and the annual Richard K. Degenhardt Scholarship Fund Auction began.

The auction net $545.00. Donations throughout the year amounted to $75.00. The chapter agreed to use the treasury to round up the total donation this year to $700.00. Bob was given the go-ahead to make the donation. The April meeting was replaced by the 2009 Belleek Convention held in Park Ridge, NJ. The July Sunshine Chapter meeting will be held at Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Restaurant and Pub on July 18, 2009 at 12:00p. (Map and Directions are included)

After 250 years, Waterford Wedgwood falls into administration

Monday 5 January 2009

Waterford Wedgwood, the 250-year-old maker of luxury glassware and china, fell in administration today, putting 2,700 jobs in the UK and Ireland at risk.

The loss-making company, whose brands include Waterford crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton fine bone china, Rosenthal porcelain and Spring premium cookware, ran out of time in its attempt to raise fresh capital.

Politicians on both sides of the Irish Sea warned that the collapse of the company had severe implications for communities where china and glass have been manufactured for generations. The mayor of Waterford said it would be a "national disaster" for Ireland if production at the crystal factory ceased.

It is also a heavy blow to Sir Anthony O'Reilly, who chairs the company. The billionaire media tycoon and his brother-in-law Peter Goulandris have pumped about €400m (£375m) into Waterford Wedgwood in recent years, and own 60% of the company's shares.

Deloitte has taken control of Waterford Wedgwood's British and Irish operations. Joint administrator Angus Martin said that several potential buyers had already contacted Deloitte. "These are classic, high-quality, world-recognized brands," he said. "There is potentially a good business here."

Waterford Wedgwood has suffered from falling demand for its high-quality crystal, china and other tableware, and has recorded a loss for the last five years. It was forced to call in the administrators after its lenders, led by Bank of America, refused to postpone its interest payments for a fourth time. They had repeatedly given the company extra time to arrange new funding, and agreed to defer loan payments until 2 January.

A US private equity firm had been considering taking a controlling stake and providing $280m of new capital, and sources close to the company believe a deal could still be hammered out.

Shares in Waterford Wedgwood, which were suspended on the Dublin market today, had already fallen to €0.001.

O'Reilly, who with Goulandris injected €60m into the company three months ago, thanked the company's suppliers, employees and customers and the British and Irish governments for their help. "We are consoled only by the fact that everything that could be done was done.”

With the unveiling of the new east window

depicting the history of Belleek, the completion of the chancel together with the flower festival culminate to make this weekend, May 25, 2009, a real celebration.

Explanation of the window

The theme of the three light window “The Potter's Wheel” is based on the text from Jeremiah 18:6 "like day in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand" (Niv)

To the top of the centre the Divine Potter's hands mould the clay. The molding takes place while the wheel is in motion. The potter puts pressure on the clay, tension and relief are involved in the process. Isaiah 64:8 "we are the day, and you our potter; and all we are all the work of your hand" (NKJC) also reminds us that God the Father, creator, moulds his people like he created Adam from the dust; Genesis 2:7 "and the lord god formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living being" (NKJV)

God's love for his creation is symbolized by a cross (the symbol of the Church of Ireland) also a reminder of the pastoral work of the local church over the two hundred years of its existence; God's love radiates out in a burst of warm colors. At the bottom of the cross is a potter in the process of throwing a pot, metaphorically a vessel to be used to God's service reminding us that just as the pot is taking shape the faithful are being molded in the likeness of Christ changed in the potters hand, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer" (NKJV), Romans 12:12.

"The discarded pot with its impurities is made new, just as we are renewed in faith through God's love"; Jeremiah 18:4, "and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make" (nkjv); "God creates us to be useful to him".

The skills of the potter are also highlighted by two vignettes right and left depicting basket weaving and hand decoration and painting of the wares. The ball of clay in front of the potter is the starting point; the raw material used in the creative process.

While the cross is the mark of Christian life, the first mark used by Belleek pottery is shown at the bottom of the centre window. The lattice shapes behind the cross is formed by the patterns of the typical basket weave design associated with Belleek Pottery along with the borders of flowers and weave pattern using subtle colors, these connect to William Henshall who brought the art of basket pottery to Belleek.

This basket is the linking element connecting all three lights and serves as a symbol of the unity of God's creation bringing different strands woven together to form the shape indicating a sense of unity of the Belleek community.

While the centre light has an emphasis on clay the left and right lights highlight the elements of fire and water which are important in the pottery processes. In the right hand light there is water which plays a role in powering the grinding and mixing processes. The scene shows the Belleek Bridge at the river Erne with sluice gates beyond and the water wheel in the foreground; all important elements to providing water power to the pottery.

The left hand light shows the old kilns which were important to the early firing process baking the clay to a high temperature. The trails and tribulations of life like the firing are necessary for us to become stronger and useful to God. The text from Jeremiah 18:2 links the scenes in the left and right lights, "arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words", (nkjv)

The local church building is depicted with the Armstrong Memorial; this with the pointers and square in the boarder connect to the man who was a founder of the pottery and his links to the local church.

A little cottage in the left border relates to a story of the discovery of local china clay with its special brightness and luster of its whitewash finish. Shapes rise up right and left emphasizing the elements of fire and water. These remind us that it is through the Holy Spirit and Baptism that we are raised up in our Christian faith.

The overall coloring of the detail reflects the soft pastel tints used on the floral detail of Belleek pottery while the stronger purples and blues are used as a background color symbolizing the Kingship of Christ while the strong greens pick out the simple central cross providing a focus behind the altar.

Belleek church history and some links to Belleek Pottery

The Parish of Belleek was formed out of Templecarne by Order in Council in 1791. Oughterdrum Church, near Castle Caldwell which was built in 1788 was the first Parish Church. The Belleek Schoolhouse, licensed for Public Worship as the Parish Church was inconvenient for some of the parishioners, being 4 miles distant. On March 24th, 1909, the Parochial Hall, Belleek, was consecrated as a Chapel of Ease and a burial ground adjoining was also consecrated. Rev. Edward R. Parr, M. A Rector of Morley, Norfolk, had conveyed the building and ground to the R.C.B. (Representative Church Body) of the Church of Ireland. Baptism and Marriage Registers from 1819 are in the Rector's custody with notes, by Rev J. B. Tuthill, and "Rewards offered" for Lawless Persons. Also Vestry Minutes from 1822.

The Belleek Church of Ireland has always had strong links with Belleek Pottery not least since its founder John Caldwell Bloomfield, was a. member of Belleek Select Vestry, their representative at the Diocesan Council and also a member of the General Synod in Dublin. Without this man's determination and persistence against all odds there would be no Belleek Pottery. The first manager of Belleek Pottery, R.W. Armstrong, is buried in Belleek Church of Ireland graveyard and he had served as churchwarden there for many years. His inscribed tablet reads: - Here lies Robert Williams Armstrong, Civil Engineer, Architect, Inventor and Ceramic Historian. Through his zeal and endeavour the name Belleek is renowned throughout the world. The people of the locality own much to this great man. Born London 1824 of Co. Longford parents. Died 1884." His gravestone is a broken pillar signifying the loss of a great pillar of society, the church, community etc.) The Memorial Plaque in Belleek Church of Ireland Graveyard honours William Henshall who was born in Stoke, Staffordshire in 1846 and died at Belleek in 1902 and interred in this churchyard. He was responsible for bringing and developing the craft of basket and flower making to Belleek Pottery in 1867. He remained at Belleek working and producing many innovative basket designs over the next 35 years.

The lives of just these three Belleek Parish parishioners give ample proof of the long and important links between the Parish and Belleek Pottery. Many others down the years have also been proud to be Pottery workers continuing in the tradition of their forbearers to the present day.