William Crolly

Styles of William Crolly
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace or Archbishop

William Crolly (8 June 1780 – 8 April 1849) was successively the Bishop of Down and Connor from 1825 to 1835 and then Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh from 1835 to 1849.

Early life and education

A native of Ballykilbeg near Downpatrick, Crolly was born on 8 June, 1780 and like his successors as Bishop of Down and Connor, Cornelius Denvir and Patrick Dorrian, was educated at Mr. Nelson's Classical school in Downpatrick. ^[1] At the age of 18 he witnessed the upheaval and aftermath of the 1798 United Irishmen rising as the county jail was in Downpatrick and it is believed that one of the assistant school masters was imprisoned. ^[2]

He went to Maynooth College where he excelled as a student, obtaining a first in Dogmatic Theology in 1806, the same year he ordained priest by Archbishop Troy.

Crolly was in demand as a lecturer at Maynooth and spent several years on the academic staff but in 1812 moved to St Patrick's Church, Belfast. He preached at the opening of the original church on 5th March 1815 in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Patrick MacMullan whom he would eventually succeed. ^[3]

Bishop of Down and Connor

In 1825 was appointed Bishop of Down and Connor and spent a decade ministering in his native diocese. Among the most important and enduring aspects of his episcopate was the establishment of St. Malachy's College in 1833 although he also constructed many churches in rural parishes. One writer estimates this was only possible by Crolly living with his curate's in a single house in Belfast. ^[4]

Archbishop of Armagh

In 1835 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in succession to Thomas Kelly who has served under three years in office.

Crolly began the construction of the Cathedral in Armagh and laid the foundation stone on St Patrick's Day, 1840. He appointed Thomas Duff architect and also decreed that work be suspended because of the Great Irish Famine.^[5]

His support for non-denominational education and his cautious welcome of the Queen's College's in 1845, a position at variance with most other Irish bishops of the time, led to him being remembered at his death as a "thoroughly tolerant man.....who devoted himself heart and soul to the advancement of his church".^[6]

He died of cholera in Drogheda, Co. Louth, in April 1849. An obituary notice in The Spectator noting the suddenness of his death recorded that 'his amiable qualities, his charitable bearing, and his moderate and conciliatory political course, secured him universal esteem, and will cause his death to be universally mourned in Ireland.'^[7]

His birthplace in Ballykilbeg, Co. Down, is remembered on a blue plaque.^[8]

References

•  "Crolly, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.