Canon John Barry: The Rev Canon John Barry, who died last week at the age of 91, was best known as a regular contributor to the Church of Ireland Gazette, where he wrote under the pen-name Cromlyn. With his logo of an old rocking chair, his fictional wife Flossie, and a writing style and humour that endured over half a century, Cromlyn was a much-loved and familiar figure in the Church of Ireland for almost two generations.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, said: "Canon Barry epitomised . . . all that was best in the devoted life of a true servant of the Church of Ireland . . . He had the true personal touch of the dedicated parish priest who carried the needs of his people close to his heart and prayers."
Canon Barry was born on September 8th, 1915. A vet's son, he went to school at Belmont National School and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, before going on to Trinity College Dublin, where he received a degree in philosophy in 1938. He was ordained deacon that year, and priest in 1939, serving his first curacy in St Matthew's, Belfast, until 1941. He was curate in St Mark's, Dundela, under the late Cuthbert Peacocke (later Bishop of Derry and Raphoe), and moved to Dunluce, Co Antrim, in 1945.
In 1949, he was appointed to Hillsborough, Co Down, where he was rector until he retired in 1983. During those 34 years, he was also a canon of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast (1956-64), chancellor of Down Cathedral (1964-73), and prebendary of Castleknock in the chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1973-13).
In 1942, he married Ellen Margaret Oulton, from Bray, Co Wicklow, and they have three sons: Jonathan (who is rector of Comber, Co Down), David and Simon.
For many, Canon Barry was synonymous with Hillsborough. When he moved there, the Downshire family practically owned the village.
When Hillsborough Castle became a government residence, there were many state, royal and official visits, but he had particular memories of meeting Douglas Fairbanks jnr and Sir John Hunt, a week after the Everest expedition.
In 1970, the bells of Hillsborough parish church were augmented by two new treble bells to mark his 21 years as rector. The bells were named John and Jonathan, after the rector and his son, who were both enthusiastic ringers.
The former name of Hillsborough, "Cromlyn" provided the pen-name for Canon Barry in his Gazette column, which first appeared on December 14th, 1956.
But he also loved Co Donegal, and many of his columns were written from his cottage in Downings.
Through those columns, Jack Barry managed to be controversially critical and well-loved at the same time. He was never afraid to question accepted wisdom and, in the words of Archbishop Eames, he "challenged, provoked, encouraged and frequently influenced the Church he so devotedly served".
Cromlyn engaged incisively with a wide range of topics, and in his 50 years became one of the longest-serving writers in religious journalism in these islands.
A favourite topic was his love for traditional liturgy and his criticism of new liturgical styles, rites and innovations. However, his long years in ministry also developed a "homespun wisdom" that he brought to his writing week by week. He spoke often of the pastoral value of "just knocking around the place", an approach that many colleagues came to value.
Canon Barry continued to write for the Gazette until he entered hospital recently. In the words of Archbishop Eames: "In his passing, our church mourns one of its most significant pastors and servants, who in retirement continued to remind us all of those values which endure."
Rev Canon John Barry: born September 8th, 1915; died September 20th, 2006