Just after I watched the CNN interview with Bishop Andrew Burnham who is leaving the department of state called the ‘Church of England’ to be received into full communion with the Holy See, I noticed an advertisement for The Portal Magazine. I thought that I should subscribe to it.

Sadly, those who have put the ordering form together, have made it difficult for those of us who recognise the country in which I live as Northern Ireland, and not Ireland. Indeed the choice given for country was:

• England
• Wales
• Scotland
• Ireland
• Not in the UK

Now despite the bail-out by Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom offered to Rialtas na hÉireann, the reality is that Her Britannic Majesty’s United Kingdom consists of those parts of the UK called:

• England, which incorporates other parts including:
  • The Principality of Wales;
  • The Borough of Berwick upon Tweed; and
  • Cornwall;
• Scotland; and
• Northern Ireland.

Éire (or in the English language Ireland) is somewhere quite different and not part of the UK. It would be helpful if the editors would get this distinction correct.

Church recognises differing areas

Of course it may be argued that the Church has hierarchies that recognise different borders to those of the actual states. However, if it were following that system it would be:

• England & Wales;
• Scotland; or
• Ireland.

But on the form it is just after you fill in your postal address.

So how have I left it?

I have filled in my postal address ending with the line

Northern Ireland

and then selected

Ireland

from the list.

I have also sent an email to the editors of the magazine giving them this blog as a reference.