Robert Wynne (Archdeacon of Aghadoe) facts for kids
George Robert Wynne (1838–1912), known as Robert, was an important minister in the Church of Ireland. He was also a very busy writer, creating many books and articles about religious topics.
Contents
Who Was Robert Wynne?
Robert Wynne was born in Wicklow, Ireland, on March 6, 1838. His father was also named George, and his mother was Clara Frances Wynne. Interestingly, his parents were first cousins! His family had connections to places like Hazelwood House in County Sligo.
His Education and Church Work
Robert Wynne went to Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university. There, he studied science and religion. He was very smart and even won awards for his English writing and for learning Hebrew. He earned his first degree in 1861. He kept studying throughout his life, getting more advanced degrees later on.
In 1861, he became a minister. He worked in several different places across Ireland:
- Rathdrum, County Wicklow (1861-1862)
- St. Ann’s parish in Dublin (1862-1864)
- Whitechurch, County Dublin (1864-1871)
- Hollywood, County Down (1871-1880)
- Killarney (1880-1904)
- St. Michael’s in Limerick (1904-1910)
He also held important positions, like being the Archdeacon of Aghadoe and a Canon in two cathedrals. He even served as a chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was like a governor.
His Family Life
Robert Wynne married Ellen Lees Smith on June 6, 1863. They had one son, also named George, and five daughters: Helen, Florence, Charlotte, Maria Cerise, and Edith Gladys. Their son, George Robert Llewellyn, followed in his father's footsteps and became a minister too. Their daughter, Gladys, became a talented artist known for her watercolour paintings.
A Prolific Author
Robert Wynne was a very active writer. He wrote many novels that had religious themes. He also wrote general books and articles for journals, all about religious subjects. People at the time noticed his talent. The Daily Express newspaper called him "one of the chief devotional writers in the Irish Church of the present day."
The British Library, a huge library in London, has more than 40 books written by him! He didn't just write serious religious works. He also wrote lighter articles, like one about what life was like in Killarney when it wasn't tourist season. Some people thought that the quieter life in Killarney helped him find more time to write.
Other Interests
Besides his church work and writing, Robert Wynne had many other interests. He was interested in Esperanto, a language created to be easy for everyone to learn. He was even a member of the British Esperanto Society. He also enjoyed studying weather (meteorology) and plants (botany).
While he was a minister in Killarney, he worked to help poor people. He supported them in moving to the United States and Canada to find better lives.
His Later Years and Legacy
Robert Wynne retired in 1910 and moved to Glendalough in County Wicklow. He passed away there on May 2, 1912. After his death, the Church of Ireland Gazette newspaper described him as a "charming personality" who did "great work in his own unobtrusive way." They said he was a special kind of person who would be greatly missed by the Irish Church he loved.
