The 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.”