Service to mark 50th anniversary of Lord Eames' consecration as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe

The Archbishop of Armagh, Most Rev'd John McDowell, will lead a service at St Columb's Cathedral in Derry on St Columba’s Day, Monday, June 9 at 11am to mark the 50th anniversary of the consecration of Lord Robin Eames as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe.

Lord Eames will be in the congregation with his wife, Lady Christine, and their sons Niall and Michael. They will be joined by a number of the Church of Ireland bishops, representatives from the three dioceses in which Lord Eames served as bishop – Derry and Raphoe, Down and Dromore, and Armagh – and clergy and parishioners from throughout the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. The sermon will be preached by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev’d Andrew Forster.

Looking forward to the service, Bishop Forster said: “Lord Eames has been a blessing to our diocese, to the Church of Ireland as a whole and to wider society on this island during his decades in ministry. He has been a distinguished and courageous church leader who has made an immense contribution to peace-building and reconciliation.

“We, in Derry and Raphoe, give thanks for Lord Eames’ stewardship of our diocese during a troubled period in its history, in the late 70s. We are thankful, too, for his leadership of the Church of Ireland over two decades during which our society emerged from the darkness of the Troubles into the light of a new – admittedly fragile – peace. Even in the darkest days, Lord Eames preached a precious message of hope, borne out of his faith in God. He is someone who can always see the good in humanity.

“We look forward to joining the Eames family and celebrating the remarkable achievement of Lord Eames’ fifty years in Episcopal Orders.”

Lord Eames was ordained a Deacon in 1963 and a Priest in 1964. He initially served as Curate in Bangor and subsequently as Rector of Gilnahirk and Rector of Dundela.

In May 1975, he was elected Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and was consecrated on Monday 9th June – St Columba’s Day. In April 1980, he was elected Bishop of Down and Dromore. He was elected Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 7 February 1986. He retired on December 31, 2006.

In mid 2007 he was appointed co-chairman, along with Denis Bradley, of the Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland. This aimed to work out how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, especially as it affects the victims of the Troubles and their relatives.