It has been announced that a Service of Thanksgiving for the life and ministry of a former Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Samuel Poyntz, is to be held in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday next, 25th February 2017.  Dr Poyntz was Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross from 1978 to 1987.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, will be represented at the Service by his predecessor (Bishop Poyntz’s successor), the Right Reverend Roy Warke, who was Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross from 1988 to 1999. Bishop Warke also served on the House of Bishops with Bishop Poyntz who was translated to the Diocese of Connor to serve as Bishop there in 1987.

The clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross will be formally represented on Saturday by the Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson. Formally representing the laity of the Diocese will be two people who worked closely with Bishop Poyntz during his time in Cork, Cloyne and Ross: Mr Wilfred Baker and Mr David Bird.

Wilfred Baker was Diocesan Secretary and worked with Bishop Poyntz in support of so many facets of the work of the Diocese, its parishes, schools and many charities.  Mr David Bird, who is one of the Diocesan Trustees, was on Diocesan Council and Diocesan Synod during the episcopate of Bishop Poyntz, and served also on General Synod, Standing Committee, and most notably, on the Role of the Church Committee which was such an important aspect of the late Bishop’s work.  Bishop Poyntz and Mr Bird were also two participants in the New Ireland Forum which met from 1983 to 1984.

On Sunday, 26th February Bishop Poyntz will be remembered at Church Services throughout Cork, Cloyne and Ross.  A minute’s silence will be kept and prayers of remembrance and thanksgiving offered.