Edwin Owen: The former bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Rev Edwin Owen, has died aged 95 in the Gascoigne Home in Rathmines, where he had lived in retirement for some years.
As bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, he was closely associated with the successful reorganisation of the Church of Ireland dioceses in the south-west and the midland region in the 1970s.
Edwin Owen was born in Armagh in 1910, the younger son of William Rowland Owen and Jessie Millar (née Cunningham). He was educated at St Patrick's Cathedral Choir School and the Royal School Armagh, before going to Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated with a BA in modern history and political science in 1932. He received his divinity testimonium in 1934 and was awarded an MA in 1941.
He was ordained deacon in 1934 and priest in 1935, and spent his early ministry in Dublin, first as a curate of St Paul's, Glenageary (1934-36), and then at Christ Church, Leeson Park (1936-38). Those early years in Dublin also brought a close attachment to St Patrick's Cathedral, which lasted for the rest of his life.
He was a minor canon of the cathedral in 1935-36, became chancellor's vicar in 1936, and was succentor from 1938 to 1942, effectively working as the cathedral curate.
During that time he met the late Margaret (Peggy) Williams of Rathfarnham, Dublin. They were married in 1940 and later had a son and a daughter, Christopher and Dilys, who are twins.
In 1942 they moved to Co Offaly when he was appointed rector of Birr and Eglish in the diocese of Killaloe. While he was in Birr, Edwin Owen also served as a rural dean and became a canon in the chapter of Killaloe Cathedral in 1954. Three years later he became dean of St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe, Co Clare.
As dean of Killaloe, he was energetically committed to the restoration of the cathedral, first built by the O'Brien kings of Munster.
He also served as diocesan secretary and as a rural dean. During his years in Killaloe, Edwin Owen was closely associated with the annual choral festival and took an active part in promoting music within the church.
He sang and played the organ, published histories of St Flannan's Cathedral and St Cronan's Church, Tuamgraney, and saw one of his hymns included in the hymnal published by the Church of Ireland in 2000.
In December 1971 Dean Owen was elected bishop of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert and Kilmacduagh in succession to Henry Arthur Stanistreet, who had retired.
He was consecrated bishop on January 25th, 1972, in St Flannan's Cathedral by Archbishop Alan Buchanan of Dublin, assisted by Bishop Richard Perdue of Cork and two future archbishops of Dublin, Bishop Henry McAdoo of Ossory and Bishop Donald Caird of Limerick.
Following Dr Caird's transfer from Limerick to Meath and Kildare in 1976, the Church of Ireland dioceses in the region were reorganised. The small diocese of Emly was transferred from Cashel to Limerick, and Limerick and Killaloe were amalgamated.
Edwin Owen then became bishop of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly. This became one of the most far-reaching dioceses in the church, extending from Kerry in the southwest to south and east Galway in the north, and parts of Co Offaly at its eastern limits.
The new diocese had four surviving cathedrals (Limerick, Killaloe, Clonfert, Kilfenora), and parishes in three provinces (Munster, Leinster and Connacht) spread across eight counties (Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Galway, Roscommon, Offaly and Laois).
A man of many parts, Bishop Owen was described by former parishioners and clergy as a wonderful preacher and a marvellous musician, a very approachable bishop who was alive to the problems of the diocese.
The present Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Rev Michael Mayes, said: "His service to the diocese is remembered with great gratitude and thanksgiving, and he played a key role in the unification of the Limerick and Killaloe dioceses."
When he retired in 1981, he was succeeded as bishop of Limerick and Killaloe by Dean Walton Empey of Limerick, another former curate of Glenageary and later to become archbishop of Dublin. Edwin and Peggy Owen returned to live in Rathgar, Dublin, and for six years he lectured in preaching at the Church of Ireland Theological College.
But he held dear his memories of living in Killaloe, and even in his last year paid a return visit to St Flannan's Cathedral and played the rebuilt organ.
Last June Bishop Owen celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination, and until recently he was a regular member of the congregation in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He was buried in the grounds of St Patrick's Cathedral.
His wife Peggy died last January, and they are survived by their son Christopher, daughter Dilys Lindsay, and grandsons Andrew and David.
The Right Rev Edwin Owen, former bishop of Limerick and Killaloe: born 1910; died April 2nd, 2005