HISTORY. 
evinces the deep anxiety with which he fulfilled the duties of his station. The free church of 
Derry, which he built and supported at his own private expense, may be adduced as a proof of his 
zeal for the interests of religion, and the spiritual welfare of a large portion of the popula¬ 
tion previously unprovided with accommodation in a place of public worship, while his splendid 
gift of £1000 to the clergymen’s widows’ fund manifested the paternal interest with which he re¬ 
garded every thing connected with the peace and comfort of the body over which he presided.-— 
His mind was at the same time free from prejudice, liberal and enlarged ; in proof of which it 
will be sufficient to state that he cheerfully contributed to the schools and houses of worship of the 
different religious denominations -within his diocese. To this brief sketch it should be added, that 
by his generous hospitality, as well as by the kindness and affability evinced in his familiar inter¬ 
course with the citizens of Derry, he won the affectionate regard of all classes. This distinguished 
prelate died in London on of July, 1831, and his remains were interred on the 17th in the 
vault of North-Audly-st. chapel. 
Richard Ponsonby succeeded 1831. A respectful delicacy towards the present estimable 
occupant of the episcopal chair of Derry, prompts the propriety of leaving his character to the 
justice of posterity—accompanied, however, with the hope, that it may be long before it shall be 
called on for its award. But it would be an unworthy omission to close these slight sketches of 
the bishops of Derry of the established church (the materials are wanting to do equal justice 
to the Roman Catholic), without the concluding remark, that on the whole they present a suc¬ 
cession of individuals distinguished for learning, or talents, or virtues, and not unfrequently all 
these united, which would not be disparaged by a comparison with the prelates of any other see 
in the island. 
Deans. 
Of the deans, who are also incumbents of the parishes of Templemore, Clondermot, and 
Faughanvale, no list is found in the records of the office of first fruits, anterior to the year 1724: 
those preceding that period have been collected from various sources. 
A. D. 1605. Webb, was the first dean. 
1620. Henry Sutton, M. A., was dean during the prelacy of Bishop Downliam, by whom he 
is described as “a man very well qualified, both for his learning and conversation.”—( Downham’s 
Visitation Book). 
1685. Peter Manby held the deanery previously to the revolution, when he became a convert 
to the Roman Catholic church, in hopes, as it is said, of procuring a bishopric from James the 2nd. 
In this, however, he was disappointed, but he was afterwards made an alderman of Derry by that 
monarch. 
1690.Thomas Wallis, M. A. 
1695.Coote Ormsby. 
1699.John Bolton, D. D. 
1724, May 4. George Berkly, S. T. D. 
1740, August 9. Robert Downes, D. D. 
1769, June 2. Thomas Bernard. 
1781, June 21. Edward Emit, M. A. 
1783, March 28. John Hume. 
1818, June 6. James Saurin. 
1820, Feb. 10. Thomas Bunbury Gough. 
Roman Catholic Bishops. 
After the death of bishop O’Gallagher, and transfer of the ecclesiastical property in 
1601, the see of Derry appears to have been without a Roman Catholic bishop for upwards of a 
century. This was not, however, the only instance of a vacancy for a considerable time in the 
Irish sees, though there were but few so long wholly unoccupied; and indeed, it appears, that it 
was only in the primatial and metropolitan sees, that the Roman court took care to preserve an 
uninterrupted succession of prelates, some of whom, however, appear never to have visited their 
bishoprics. In the vacant sees, the episcopal power was usually exercised to a certain extent by 
vicars-general, by whom priests were appointed to the several parishes, and officials in the rural 
deaneries. 
From bishop Downham’s visitation-book of the diocese of Derry (circa 1620,) we learn, that 
Bernard Mac Oreaghty, or Geraghty, was the first vicar-general during the vacancy in the see of 
Derry, and that his successor was Patrick Mac Mahon, both of whom were appointed by Eugenius 
o 2 
