Robin Bantry White

The Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Venerable Robin Bantry White has announced that he intends to retire from stipendiary ministry on 1st March, 2014.

Within the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, as well as being Archdeacon, he fulfils a dual ministry as Incumbent of Moviddy Union and also half-time Assistant Hospital Chaplain (at Cork University Hospital/Cork University Maternity Hospital, Marymount Hospice and the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork).

The Archdeacon has served in the Diocese for 34 years, since 1979 when he was appointed to the Incumbency of Abbeystrewry Union (Skibbereen, C0. Cork).  He was ordained deacon in 1972 and priest in 1973 and served first in two curacies in the Diocese of Dublin (Zion Parish, Rathgar, followed by Taney Parish, Dundrum).   After ten years in West Cork he moved in 1989 to the large Cork suburban parish of Douglas Union, with Frankfield, before commencing in his current post in 2002.  In 2009 he was elected to a canonry in the Church of Ireland’s National Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin where he is Prebendary of Castleknock.

Robin Bantry White will not only be missed from the key role he fulfils in Cork, Cloyne and Ross, but also in the wider Church of Ireland in which he is energetically involved in key roles.   He currently serves on the Representative Church Body (as well as its Executive Committee, and its Library and Archives Committee); on the General Synod and Standing Committee, to both of which he is a Clerical Honorary Secretary; on the Board of Education of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland; and on many other committees of the Church.

Hearing the news, the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton said:

The Archdeacon is a key role in the Diocese as well as in support of the ministry of and on behalf of the Bishop.  I know him to be, and he is also widely recognised throughout the Church of Ireland as, ‘a great Archdeacon.’  More than that, he has been a faithful priest in every capacity in which he has been serving throughout his ministry.  When the retirement does come he, together with Faith, his wife, will be greatly missed.