Walton Empey
Encyclopedia
Walton Newcombe Frances Empey (born 26 October 1934) is a retired Church of Ireland
bishop. He was formerly the Archbishop of Dublin
.
Empey was born in Dublin, the son of the Reverend Francis Fullerton Empey and Mildred May "Mimi" Empey (née
Cox). His father was also a cleric, serving in Donoughmore and Donard, Fenagh and then in Enniscorthy
. Empey was educated in local national schools in his father’s parishes and then at Portora Royal School
in Enniskillen
. He then took a BA at Trinity College, Dublin
in 1957.
Empey was ordained as a deacon in 1958 and, after being ordained priest in 1959, he was appointed as a curate in St Paul's church, in Glenageary
, County Dublin
. The following year he moved to Canada
, serving the Anglican Church in Canada initially in Grand Falls, New Brunswick
and then for three years as Rector of Madawaska
.
Empey returned to Ireland in 1966 as Rector of Stradbally, County Laois
until 1971, when he was appointed as Dean of Limerick
and Rector of Limerick City Parishes. In 1981
he was elected Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe
and in 1985 he succeeded Donald Caird
as Bishop of Meath and Kildare. Caird had been appointed as Archbishop of Dublin and when he retired from that role in 1996, Empey was elected as his successor, becoming Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Glendalough, Primate of Ireland
and Metropolitan. He was enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral
in June 1997 and retired in 2002.
Empey married Louisa "Louie" Hall in July 1960 and they have four children; Patrick (born 1961), Karl (born 1963), Kevin (born 1967) and Shelia (born 1971). He also has nine grandchildren, the youngest born January 20th, 2011. Hif favorite grandchild, of course, is Jillian, (age 14)
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
bishop. He was formerly the Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland...
.
Empey was born in Dublin, the son of the Reverend Francis Fullerton Empey and Mildred May "Mimi" Empey (née
Cox). His father was also a cleric, serving in Donoughmore and Donard, Fenagh and then in Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
. Empey was educated in local national schools in his father’s parishes and then at Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. He then took a BA at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1957.
Empey was ordained as a deacon in 1958 and, after being ordained priest in 1959, he was appointed as a curate in St Paul's church, in Glenageary
Glenageary
Glenageary is an area in the suburbs of south County Dublin, Ireland, part of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County.While there is no officially defined boundary, it is surrounded by the areas of Sallynoggin, Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, Glasthule and Johnstown...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. The following year he moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, serving the Anglican Church in Canada initially in Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Grand Falls is a Canadian town located in Victoria County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Saint John River, the town derives its name from a waterfall created by a series of rock ledges over which the river drops 23 metres.-Geography:Grand Falls is located in the valley of the St...
and then for three years as Rector of Madawaska
Madawaska
Madawaska may refer to several places:in Canada*Madawaska County, New Brunswick, Canada*The Republic of Madawaska*Madawaska River *Madawaska River , in Quebec and New Brunswick*Madawaska, Ontario*Madawaska Valley, Ontario...
.
Empey returned to Ireland in 1966 as Rector of Stradbally, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
until 1971, when he was appointed as Dean of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Rector of Limerick City Parishes. In 1981
he was elected Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe
Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe
The Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in the Province of Dublin....
and in 1985 he succeeded Donald Caird
Donald Caird
Donald Arthur Richard Caird is a retired Irish bishop who held three senior posts in the Church of Ireland during the last third of the 20th century....
as Bishop of Meath and Kildare. Caird had been appointed as Archbishop of Dublin and when he retired from that role in 1996, Empey was elected as his successor, becoming Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Glendalough, Primate of Ireland
Primate of Ireland
The Primacy of Ireland was historically disputed between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin until finally settled by Pope Innocent VI. Primate is a title of honour denoting ceremonial precedence in the Church, and in the Middle Ages there was an intense rivalry between the two...
and Metropolitan. He was enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
in June 1997 and retired in 2002.
Empey married Louisa "Louie" Hall in July 1960 and they have four children; Patrick (born 1961), Karl (born 1963), Kevin (born 1967) and Shelia (born 1971). He also has nine grandchildren, the youngest born January 20th, 2011. Hif favorite grandchild, of course, is Jillian, (age 14)