Archdeacon of Ardfert

Dioceses of the Church of Ireland
ChurchChurch of Ireland
Metropolitan bishopArchbishop of Dublin
CathedralChrist Church Cathedral, Dublin
Dioceses5

The Archdeacon of Ardfert was a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Anglican Diocese of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe from the early thirteenth century[1] to the early twentieth.[2] As such he was responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy [3] within his part of the Diocese of Ardfert (until 1666); and then the combined diocese of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe.

The archdeaconry can trace its history back to Florence, who was mentioned in a document in the Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin archives as holding the office circa 1227.[1] Two incumbents went on to hold bishoprics: John Smith (bishop of Killala and Achonry)[4] and Raymond d’Audemar Orpen.[5] Edward Day, Archdeacon 1782-1788, was a much-loved local figure, "a man of great erudition and unbounded benevolence". His grand-nephew Anthony Denny was also Archdeacon. The last discrete incumbent was William Foley.

  1. ^ a b "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 1" Cotton, H. pp450-452 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848-1878
  2. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1908 p81 London, Horace Cox, 1908
  3. ^ "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5
  4. ^ "History of the Church of Ireland, from the Reformation to the Revolution" By Mant, R. p742: London J.W. Parker, 1840
  5. ^ Bishop Orpen. The Times (London, England), Friday, 10 Jan 1930; pg. 14; Issue 45407