Robin Eames
Encyclopedia
Robin Henry Alexander Eames, Baron Eames OM
(born 27 April 1937) was the Anglican Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh
from 1986 to 2006.
and Methodist College
before going on to study at the Queen's University of Belfast
, graduating LL.B
(Upper Second Class Honours) in 1960 and earning a Ph.D.
degree in ecclesiastical law and history in 1963. He qualified in theology with a Divinity Testimonium (2nd class) from Trinity College, Dublin. During his undergraduate course at Queen's, one of his philosophy lecturers was his future Roman Catholic counterpart, Cahal Daly. While an undergraduate, he was briefly involved in the Young Unionists.
in 1960, but found the course "intellectually unsatisfying". In 1963 he was appointed curate assistant at Bangor
Parish Church, becoming Rector
of St Dorothea's in Belfast three years later. In the same year, 1966, he married Christine Daly. During his time in St Dorothea's, in the Braniel and Tullycarnet area of east Belfast, he developed a 'coffee bar ministry' among young people but The Troubles
interrupted. During this time he rescued a Catholic girl from a loyalist
mob who had set her family home on fire. He mysteriously turned down the opportunity to become dean of Cork
and in 1974 was appointed rector of St Mark's in Dundela in east Belfast
, formerly C. S. Lewis
's family church. In May 1975, at the age of 38, he was appointed bishop of the cross-border diocese of Derry and Raphoe - having visited Derry
only once. In a groundbreaking move, he invited his similarly young Catholic counterpart, Dr Edward Daly
, to his consecration. Eames was translated five years later to the diocese
of Down and Dromore. In 1986, he became the 103rd Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
In 1990, some members of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland felt offended when Eames did not attend the funeral of his neighbour and fellow Armagh primate, Tomás Ó Fiaich. Eames said that the reason for for him not attending was due to the necessity of him attending the vote regarding the admission of women to the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland
.
. In an interview with the Sunday Business Post, the grand secretary of the Freemasons in Ireland said: “Archbishop Eames resigned from his lodges – he was a member of more than one lodge - about the time he was appointed primate
.”
, a rural parish near Portadown
, became the site of a major political incident in 1996, when the annual Orangemen's march was banned from returning to the centre of Portadown via the Nationalist Garvaghy road after attending worship at Drumcree parish church. This decision was made by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and not the Northern Ireland parades commission who did not have authority at this time and were an advisory body only. It was also outwith the remit of the police to forbid worship in the church. The ensuing public unrest and violence escalated and over the next three to four summers the situation in Northern Ireland was very unstable with other parades coming under first police and later commission sanction.
There was great unease in the Church of Ireland as it is truly a broad church in theology and politics and has within its congregations nationalists in the south and unionists in the north and many Orangemen holding office in local parishes. This is not an easy governance and Eames, along with the rector of Dumcree, was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. However it is the perception of many that he did nothing at all. Some bishops in the Republic of Ireland called for Eames to close the parish church. Notable among these was Bishop John Neill
who later became Archbishop of Dublin
.
Eames refused to do so, believing this action could have precipitated greater unrest and possibly bloodshed. Eames described the Drumcree controversy as his "own personal Calvary". After years of annual unrest in the days leading up to and following "Drumcree Sunday" (the Sunday before the 12th of July, when Orangemen marched to the church), the dispute continues but the public unrest has decreased by a massive degree, although July and August remain the most dangerous months of the year in Northern Ireland.
. In 2003, the self-styled 'divine optimist' was appointed Chairman of the Lambeth Commission on Communion, which examined significant challenges to unity in the Anglican Communion
. The Commission published its report ("the Windsor Report
") on 18 October 2004.
, Bishop of Connor, as Dr. Eames's successor.
, 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. This is a very thorny subject, as "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist".
Sources close to the Group created controversy in early 2008 by suggesting that the Troubles could be officially classified as a "war". Relatives of security force victims argued that this would demean the sacrifice of their relatives during the darkest days of the Troubles. Their relatives were often shot when off duty and unable to defend themselves; their opponents were not obeying the rules of war as commonly understood.
The Group issued its report in January 2009.
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
(born 27 April 1937) was the Anglican Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
The Anglican Archbishop of Armagh is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Ireland, the metropolitan of the Province of Armagh and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Armagh....
from 1986 to 2006.
Education
Robin Eames was born in 1937, the son of a Methodist minister. His early years were spent in Larne, with the family later moving to Belfast. He was educated at the city's Belfast Royal AcademyBelfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
and Methodist College
Methodist College
Methodist College may refer to:*Methodist University in North Carolina *Methodist College in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong*Sha Tin Methodist College in Sha Tin, Hong Kong*Methodist College Belfast*Southern Methodist University...
before going on to study at the Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
, graduating LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(Upper Second Class Honours) in 1960 and earning a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in ecclesiastical law and history in 1963. He qualified in theology with a Divinity Testimonium (2nd class) from Trinity College, Dublin. During his undergraduate course at Queen's, one of his philosophy lecturers was his future Roman Catholic counterpart, Cahal Daly. While an undergraduate, he was briefly involved in the Young Unionists.
Ministry in Ireland
Turning his back on legal studies for ordination in the Church of Ireland, Eames embarked on a three-year course at the divinity school in Trinity College, DublinTrinity 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 1960, but found the course "intellectually unsatisfying". In 1963 he was appointed curate assistant at Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
Parish Church, becoming 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 Dorothea's in Belfast three years later. In the same year, 1966, he married Christine Daly. During his time in St Dorothea's, in the Braniel and Tullycarnet area of east Belfast, he developed a 'coffee bar ministry' among young people but The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
interrupted. During this time he rescued a Catholic girl from a loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
mob who had set her family home on fire. He mysteriously turned down the opportunity to become dean of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and in 1974 was appointed rector of St Mark's in Dundela in east Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, formerly C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
's family church. In May 1975, at the age of 38, he was appointed bishop of the cross-border diocese of Derry and Raphoe - having visited Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
only once. In a groundbreaking move, he invited his similarly young Catholic counterpart, Dr Edward Daly
Edward Daly (bishop)
Edward Daly , D.D., was the Catholic Lord Bishop of Derry from 1974 to 1993.- Early life & priestly ministry :...
, to his consecration. Eames was translated five years later to the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Down and Dromore. In 1986, he became the 103rd Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
In 1990, some members of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland felt offended when Eames did not attend the funeral of his neighbour and fellow Armagh primate, Tomás Ó Fiaich. Eames said that the reason for for him not attending was due to the necessity of him attending the vote regarding the admission of women to the ordained ministry 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...
.
Freemasonry
Eames joined the Freemasons as a young man, then later resigned. There is some dispute about when he resigned. The Church of Ireland maintain that he resigned while a curateCurate
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...
. In an interview with the Sunday Business Post, the grand secretary of the Freemasons in Ireland said: “Archbishop Eames resigned from his lodges – he was a member of more than one lodge - about the time he was appointed primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
.”
Drumcree controversy
Drumcree ChurchDrumcree Church
Drumcree Parish Church, officially The Church of the Ascension, is the parish church of Drumcree Church of Ireland parish. The church is within the townland of Drumcree, roughly 1.5 miles to the northeast of Portadown, County Armagh....
, a rural parish near Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, became the site of a major political incident in 1996, when the annual Orangemen's march was banned from returning to the centre of Portadown via the Nationalist Garvaghy road after attending worship at Drumcree parish church. This decision was made by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and not the Northern Ireland parades commission who did not have authority at this time and were an advisory body only. It was also outwith the remit of the police to forbid worship in the church. The ensuing public unrest and violence escalated and over the next three to four summers the situation in Northern Ireland was very unstable with other parades coming under first police and later commission sanction.
There was great unease in the Church of Ireland as it is truly a broad church in theology and politics and has within its congregations nationalists in the south and unionists in the north and many Orangemen holding office in local parishes. This is not an easy governance and Eames, along with the rector of Dumcree, was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. However it is the perception of many that he did nothing at all. Some bishops in the Republic of Ireland called for Eames to close the parish church. Notable among these was Bishop John Neill
John Neill
John Robert Winder Neill was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin until the end of January 2011.The fourth generation of his family to become a clergyman, John Neill was educated in Dublin at the Avoca School and at Sandford Park. He attended the University of Dublin , Jesus College and...
who later became 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...
.
Eames refused to do so, believing this action could have precipitated greater unrest and possibly bloodshed. Eames described the Drumcree controversy as his "own personal Calvary". After years of annual unrest in the days leading up to and following "Drumcree Sunday" (the Sunday before the 12th of July, when Orangemen marched to the church), the dispute continues but the public unrest has decreased by a massive degree, although July and August remain the most dangerous months of the year in Northern Ireland.
Anglicanism's "troubleshooter"
- Chairman of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Commission on "Communion and Women in the Episcopate", 1988-89.
- Chairman of the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission, 1991.
- Chairman of the Lambeth Commission on Communion, 2003-2004.
Windsor Report
Eames is also a significant figure within the general Anglican CommunionAnglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. In 2003, the self-styled 'divine optimist' was appointed Chairman of the Lambeth Commission on Communion, which examined significant challenges to unity in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. The Commission published its report ("the Windsor Report
Windsor Report
In 2003, the Lambeth Commission on Communion was appointed by the Anglican Communion to study problems stemming from the consecration of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay, noncelibate priest to be ordained as an Anglican bishop, in the Episcopal Church in the United States and the blessing of...
") on 18 October 2004.
Retirement and succession
At the Church of Ireland General Synod 2006 he announced his intention to retire on 31 December 2006. Church law permitted him to continue as primate until the age of 75; he resigned in good health at the age of 69. On Wednesday 10 January 2007, the eleven serving bishops of the Church of Ireland, meeting at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, elected Alan HarperAlan Harper (archbishop)
Alan Edwin Thomas Harper, OBE is the Church of Ireland's Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. He assumed office on 2 February 2007 and was ceremonially enthroned on 16 March 2007. He is the first English-born Irish primate since the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1869...
, Bishop of Connor, as Dr. Eames's successor.
Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland
In mid 2007 he was appointed co-chairman, along with Denis BradleyDenis Bradley
Denis Bradley is a former vice-chairman of the police board for the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland. Born in Buncrana, County Donegal, Bradley is a freelance journalist and a former priest. He was formerly a member of the NI Drugs Committee and the BBC Broadcasting Council,...
, 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. This is a very thorny subject, as "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist".
Sources close to the Group created controversy in early 2008 by suggesting that the Troubles could be officially classified as a "war". Relatives of security force victims argued that this would demean the sacrifice of their relatives during the darkest days of the Troubles. Their relatives were often shot when off duty and unable to defend themselves; their opponents were not obeying the rules of war as commonly understood.
The Group issued its report in January 2009.
Honours and awards
- Select preacher at Oxford UniversityUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, 1987.
- Created Life PeerLife peerIn the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
, he was gazetted as Baron Eames of Armagh in the County of Armagh on 25 August 1995 (on the recommendation of the prime minister, John Major MP). He sits as a cross-bencher.
- Honorary doctoratesHonorary degreeAn honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
: Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.), honoris causa by The Queen's University of Belfast, 1989; Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.) honoris causa by Trinity College, Dublin, 1992; Doctor of Literature degree (D.Litt.) honoris causa by Greenwich University of Cambridge, 1994; Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.) honoris causa by University of Cambridge, 1994; Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.) honoris causa by Lancaster University, 1994; Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.) honoris causa by Aberdeen University, 1997; Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.) honoris causa by Exeter University, 1999; Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.) honoris causa by University of Ulster, 2002. Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.) honoris causa by the University of London, 2008.
- Honorary BencherBencherA bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of Lincoln's InnLincoln's InnThe Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, London 1998.
- Archbishop of Canterbury's Award for Outstanding Service to the Anglican CommunionArchbishop of Canterbury's Award for Outstanding Service to the Anglican CommunionThe Archbishop of Canterbury's Award for Outstanding Service to the Anglican Communion is the highest award within the Anglican Communion. It was created by Archbishop George Carey to mark the retirement of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, its first recipient. It has only been awarded to one other...
. The Award was presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, on Thursday 16 November 2006, at a special service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. Presenting the award, Archbishop Williams said: “We have in the Anglican Communion various ways of recognising distinguished service. There are awards given at Lambeth, there is the cross of St Augustine. But once in a while somebody comes along for whom this doesn't seem completely adequate and when Desmond Tutu retired, the then Archbishop of Canterbury invented the Archbishop of Canterbury's Award for Outstanding Service to the Anglican Communion. Tonight it is a huge privilege to present that award for the second time.”
- Tipperary International Peace Award, 2006 (to be presented in April 2007 at the Tipperary International Festival).
- On June 13, 2007, he received the Order of MeritOrder of MeritThe Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
from Queen Elizabeth II, this is an exclusive order, restricted to 24 members, who receive it in the personal gift of the Queen, and entitled recipients to the postnominals 'OM' after their name.