Victor Gilbert Benjamin Griffin (Dean Griffin) [1] (24 May 1924 – 11 January 2017) was a Church of Ireland ( Anglican) priest, theologian and author and a strongly liberal voice in Irish public life. [2]
Born in Carnew, County Wicklow, Griffin was educated at Kilkenny College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he was elected a scholar and awarded the Luce, Bernard, Wray and Macren prizes for philosophy and metaphysical studies. He had a long and mutually satisfying relationship with Trinity in his years in ministry in Dublin. [3]
He was married to Daphne who died from MS on 16 January 1998. They had twin sons Timothy (died 5 June 2012) and Kevin, both married and Griffin has five grandchildren.
He was ordained in 1948. [4] He held curacies at St Augustine's in Derry then at Christ Church, in the same city. He became rector of Christ Church in 1957, serving until 1969.[ citation needed]
He was first prebendary of Howth in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1962–1968) then dean from 1969 until 1991 [5] and when he completed his term he was regarded by some commentators as "the great Dean of the twentieth century." [6]
Griffin's ministry in Dublin was characterised by an openness and inclusivity, a building of bridges to other traditions and he was among the first public figures to recognise the wider changes in Irish public life. Among the causes he adopted were: strong support for the Irish anti-apartheid campaign; his endorsement of, and canvassing for both Mary Robinson and David Norris (politician); trenchant opposition to the campaign for the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland; Tenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1986; and the campaign to preserve Liberties of Dublin and renovate the inner city. [7]
He was the author of several books including:
He lived in retirement in Limavady, Northern Ireland, until his death in 2017. [9]
Victor Gilbert Benjamin Griffin (Dean Griffin) [1] (24 May 1924 – 11 January 2017) was a Church of Ireland ( Anglican) priest, theologian and author and a strongly liberal voice in Irish public life. [2]
Born in Carnew, County Wicklow, Griffin was educated at Kilkenny College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he was elected a scholar and awarded the Luce, Bernard, Wray and Macren prizes for philosophy and metaphysical studies. He had a long and mutually satisfying relationship with Trinity in his years in ministry in Dublin. [3]
He was married to Daphne who died from MS on 16 January 1998. They had twin sons Timothy (died 5 June 2012) and Kevin, both married and Griffin has five grandchildren.
He was ordained in 1948. [4] He held curacies at St Augustine's in Derry then at Christ Church, in the same city. He became rector of Christ Church in 1957, serving until 1969.[ citation needed]
He was first prebendary of Howth in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1962–1968) then dean from 1969 until 1991 [5] and when he completed his term he was regarded by some commentators as "the great Dean of the twentieth century." [6]
Griffin's ministry in Dublin was characterised by an openness and inclusivity, a building of bridges to other traditions and he was among the first public figures to recognise the wider changes in Irish public life. Among the causes he adopted were: strong support for the Irish anti-apartheid campaign; his endorsement of, and canvassing for both Mary Robinson and David Norris (politician); trenchant opposition to the campaign for the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland; Tenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1986; and the campaign to preserve Liberties of Dublin and renovate the inner city. [7]
He was the author of several books including:
He lived in retirement in Limavady, Northern Ireland, until his death in 2017. [9]