Joseph Ferguson Peacocke
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ferguson Peacocke (5 November 1835 – 26 May 1916) was a Church of Ireland
cleric. He was the Bishop of Meath
from 1894 to 1897 and then Archbishop of Dublin
from 1897 until 1915. He was also briefly the professor of pastoral theology at Trinity College, Dublin
.
, Queen's County
(now County Laois
), Peacocke was the son of George Peacocke, who was a physician at Longford
, and of his wife Catherine Ferguson. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin
, he graduated BA
in 1857 with a first-class divinity testimonium. He was senior moderator in history and English literature and won that year's Dublin University prize for political economy.
in 1858 and a priest
of the Church of Ireland
in 1859. He was curate
at St Mary's, Kilkenny
, from 1858 until 1861, then for two years took up the position of secretary to the Hibernian Church Missionary Society. He was on the Evangelical
wing of the church and believed especially in foreign missions and in the Church Missionary Society. From 1863 unti 1873 he was curate of Monkstown Church
, County Dublin
. in 1873 he was appointed rector
of St George's, Dublin, a significant parish. In 1878 he returned to Monkstown as rector and remained until he was elected a bishop. He became a canon
of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity
in 1883, and for a few months in 1894 he held the professorship of pastoral theology in Trinity College.
In 1894 Peacocke was elected bishop of Meath
, where he was consecrated on 11 June 1894. On 19 May 1897 he was translated to become archbishop of Dublin (with which the dioceses of Glendalough and Kildare were united) and became the first archbishop of Dublin in two centuries to have served as a parish priest in the diocese. He presided successfully over his dioceses, serving also as a visiting preacher at Cambridge
, until 1915, when he resigned on the grounds of ill health.
Peacock died at Hastings, Blackrock, in May 1916, and his memorial tablet in Kildare Cathedral says that he was a Pastor fidelis, humilis, et sanctus corde ("a faithful, humble and holy pastor"). According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, his reputation was for "tolerance, holiness, and varied pastoral experience" and also as "a man of fine presence".
, was elected bishop of Derry and Raphoe
a few weeks before his father's death, while the other sons included George John Peacocke and the Rev. Gerald William Peacocke.
at Dublin. A sketch for this is reproduced in de László's book Painting a Portrait (1937).
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...
cleric. He was the Bishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
from 1894 to 1897 and then 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...
from 1897 until 1915. He was also briefly the professor of pastoral theology 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...
.
Early life
Born at AbbeyleixAbbeyleix
Abbeyleix is a town in County Laois, Ireland about from Portlaoise and located on the N77 national secondary route. Formerly the N8 National Primary Route ran through the centre of the town, making Abbeyleix an infamous bottleneck on the Dublin-Cork corridor with up to 15,000 vehicles passing...
, Queen's County
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...
(now 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...
), Peacocke was the son of George Peacocke, who was a physician at Longford
Longford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
, and of his wife Catherine Ferguson. Educated 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...
, he graduated BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1857 with a first-class divinity testimonium. He was senior moderator in history and English literature and won that year's Dublin University prize for political economy.
Career
Peacocke was ordained a deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1858 and a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of the Church of Ireland
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...
in 1859. He was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St Mary's, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, from 1858 until 1861, then for two years took up the position of secretary to the Hibernian Church Missionary Society. He was on the Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
wing of the church and believed especially in foreign missions and in the Church Missionary Society. From 1863 unti 1873 he was curate of Monkstown Church
Monkstown Church, Dublin
Monkstown Church is a church of the Church of Ireland located in Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland.-History:The original church on this site was opened in 1789 and was a very simple church. In 1825 it was decided to rebuild the church and the architect John Semple of the Board of First Fruits was...
, 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...
. in 1873 he was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St George's, Dublin, a significant parish. In 1878 he returned to Monkstown as rector and remained until he was elected a bishop. He became a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1883, and for a few months in 1894 he held the professorship of pastoral theology in Trinity College.
In 1894 Peacocke was elected bishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, where he was consecrated on 11 June 1894. On 19 May 1897 he was translated to become archbishop of Dublin (with which the dioceses of Glendalough and Kildare were united) and became the first archbishop of Dublin in two centuries to have served as a parish priest in the diocese. He presided successfully over his dioceses, serving also as a visiting preacher at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, until 1915, when he resigned on the grounds of ill health.
Peacock died at Hastings, Blackrock, in May 1916, and his memorial tablet in Kildare Cathedral says that he was a Pastor fidelis, humilis, et sanctus corde ("a faithful, humble and holy pastor"). According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, his reputation was for "tolerance, holiness, and varied pastoral experience" and also as "a man of fine presence".
Family
In 1865, Peacocke married Caroline Sophia Irvine. They had one daughter and four sons. Their eldest son, Joseph Irvine PeacockeJoseph Irvine Peacocke
The Rt Rev Joseph Irvine Peacocke, DD was a long serving Derry and Raphoe.Born into an ecclesiastical family on 28 November 1866 and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he was ordained in 1891 and his first post was a curacy in Shankill, Belfast. In 1894 he became Rector of Christ Church, Lisburn...
, was elected bishop of Derry and Raphoe
Bishop of Derry and Raphoe
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Derry and Raphoe in the Province of Armagh.The united diocese has two Episcopal sees, one at St Columb's Cathedral, Derry in Northern Ireland, and the other at the Cathedral Church of St. Eunan, Raphoe in the...
a few weeks before his father's death, while the other sons included George John Peacocke and the Rev. Gerald William Peacocke.
Likeless
A portrait in oils of Peacocke by Philip de László (working sketch illustrated) was presented to him by the diocese and is now to be seen in the Bishop's palaceBishop's palace
Bishop's Palace may refer to the official residence of any bishop, such as those listed in the :Category:Episcopal palaces.Specific residences called Bishop's Palace include:* Bishop's Palace, Castres, France...
at Dublin. A sketch for this is reproduced in de László's book Painting a Portrait (1937).