Bishop John Richard Darley (1799 – 1884)
John Richard Darley was a minister in the Church of Ireland who achieved great respect among people of all creeds. He was chiefly a philanthropist who carried out many acts of charity for the betterment of the communities in which he served.
Born in November 1799, the second son of Richard and Elizabeth Darley, John received his early schooling at the Royal School, Dungannon. In 1816 he became a student at Trinity College Dublin, studying classics, science and Hebrew, obtaining a classical scholarship in 1819 and his Bachelor of Arts by 1821.
He married twice. His first marriage, to Anne Darley, was in 1826 — the same year he was admitted to Holy Orders in the Diocese of Armagh. He became headmaster of the Endowed Grammar School of Dundalk, and later, in 1831, headmaster of the Royal School, Dungannon, retiring in 1850.
Darley’s School
In 1859, a “very handsome ample school-house and teachers’ residence” was erected by Reverend J. R. Darley at Cootehill, funded out of his own private purse — in effect, a charitable establishment costing over six hundred pounds. The school welcomed pupils of all creeds, both Catholic and dissenter.
In 1882 the school was registered with the Commissioners of National Education. There was much poverty in Cootehill during the 1860s, and John was among those who subscribed money to aid the needy of Drumgoon, forming a Fuel Relief Committee to purchase coal directly and sell it at a fair price to those most in need.
Bishop of a United Diocese
In September 1874, at the age of 75, Dr. Darley was elected Bishop of the united Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, consecrated on 25th October 1874 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.
Protestant Hall in Cavan Town
During his term as Bishop, the Protestant Hall was built in Cavan town, its foundation stone laid in 1876 by Lord Farnham. The hall was demolished in the 1990s; the Johnston Central Library and Farnham Centre now stand on the site.
John Richard Darley died on Sunday 20th January 1884. Today, his name continues to live on in the school he founded at Cootehill.
Further reading: Jonathan A. Smyth, ‘John Richard Darley (1799-1884), bishop, scholar & philanthropist’, in Breifne, Vol. xi, no. 44 (2008), pp.683-710.
Wikipedia: John Darley (bishop) · The Anglo-Celt: John Richard Darley, school founder and bishop