One of the projects I gave myself in retirement was to research some of the characters that are to be found in the pages of the history of the Church of Ireland since the Reformation. And I hope that as their stories have entertained me, so they might do the same for you.

Some are principled but many are unprincipled. Some have sought to serve others, but many of them sought only to serve themselves. Some are fondly remembered by the Church, but others are preferably forgotten by the Church. They include the murdering as well as the murdered, the immoral as well as the moral, the rogues as well as the righteous, prelates as well as priests.

While there are a few books such as Clergy of the Church of Ireland from 1000 – 2000 that recount some of their histories, they are weighty and serious studies. What I have tried to do is to make their stories light and entertaining. I have omitted the very famous, like Jonathan Swift about whom much has been written. While some names may be recognised, not many will know their stories, and some will be unknown to the general reader. The sketches are historically accurate.

The Church of Ireland has a very respectable and staid image, but it was not always so!