Monday, February 20, 2017

Bishop Samuel Poyntz ‘will be fondly remembered

Image result for bishop samuel poyntzThe Right Rev Dr Samuel Poyntz, a former Bishop of Connor, died peacefully on Saturday February 18.

Bishop Poyntz was Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross from 1978-87 and Bishop of Connor from 1987-95.

There will be a private family funeral this week followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Saturday, February 25 at 11.30am.

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, said: “Bishop Poyntz is fondly remembered in the Diocese of Connor for his energy, his leadership and his sense of fun. He led this diocese through some of the difficult years of the Troubles with great courage and wisdom. Our prayers are with the Poyntz family at this time of loss.”

The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said: “It is with real sadness that I learned of the death of Bishop Samuel Poyntz over the weekend. I have known him since my own childhood in Dublin, but most closely from my time as a rector in Cork when he was bishop of the diocese.

“I found him to be a decisive, practical and vigorous Christian leader but also someone who was deeply caring and supportive of his clergy, in short a great bishop.

“I also saw him to be a person of huge courage and fortitude, virtues which he demonstrated to the full during his time as Bishop of Connor during very difficult times in Northern Ireland, but these were also qualities which he used throughout his long and fulfilled life for the good of the life and witness of the entire Church of Ireland. 

“I hold the Poyntz family in my prayers at this time of loss, and trust that they will know God’s comfort in their bereavement.”