Press Releases20 Feb 17

Death of The Rt Revd Samuel Poyntz

The Right Revd Samuel Poyntz, formerly Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross (1978–87) and Bishop of Connor (1987–95) died peacefully on Saturday 18th February.

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

On hearing of Bishop Poyntz’s passing, The Most Revd 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.’