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United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

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01.11.2008

The Rt Revd Robin Eames Gives Address at Memorial Service for Canon Robin Lewis-Crosby MC

The Memorial Service for Canon Robin Lewis-Crosby MC was held today at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on Saturday 1 November 2008 at 11.00am.

Canon Lewis-Crosby was a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ireland, on the boards of many Irish companies, one-time President of the Royal Dublin Society, and a distinguished lay member of the Church of Ireland and Lay Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.

The address at the service was given by the Rt Revd Lord Eames of Armagh OM. The transcript of the address is given below.


Address:


ADDRESS BY THE RIGHT REVEREND LORD EAMES OM AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CANON ROBIN LEWIS-CROSBY MC
IN
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN


In February 1979 a Report was presented to the Church of Ireland entitled ‘First of All’.
It was the result of the deliberations of a joint group of senior clergy and laity on what they considered were the priorities for our Church. The Report began with these words:

“The first priority of the Church of Ireland is spiritual – not material…
The history of our Church is an inspiration – not a burden…”

I cannot think of a more appropriate way to begin this short tribute to the late Robin Lewis-Crosby, a lay canon of our church. Not only was he a member of that think-tank but his thoughts and vision played a key role in our recommendations. With all his professional experience in the world of commerce he still had no doubt as to the priority of the spiritual not alone in the church he loved and served, but in his everyday life. His Church represented for him an inspiration – not a mundane duty or burden. Such beliefs hold the key to one of the most significant lay leaders of the Church of Ireland of this generation. For that life and witness we give thanks to Almighty God this morning – for a life of great richness, compassion and integrity which touched so many lives for good within and beyond the Church of Ireland.

Honored though I am to give this Address at the request of family, recognise the impossibility of embracing all the facts of Robin Lewis-Crosby’s life. I was privileged over the years to work extensively with him, to share his confidence and to count on him as a true and trusted friend. While the Church of Ireland benefited so much from his input that was one facet of his immensely active life. Some of that fullness is captured in the word picture of his career in the Order of Service.

Robin was the son of the rectory – his father was to become Dean of this Cathedral. He was educated at Abberley Hall in Worcesteshire, Rugby School and Corpus Christi at Oxford. The Second World War was to interrupt his career as a chartered accountant here in his beloved Dublin. As a young Artillery officer he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery on several occasions and yet he was always reticent to talk about that period of his life. In fact not many knew of his war honours. After the war he became a partner in Stokes Bros and Pim which is now KPMG Ireland. He was appointed to the Boards of many Irish companies and was one of the architects in creating the Irish Times Trust thus securing the independence of one of our leading newspapers. From 1957 to 1988 he was a member of the Court of the Bank of Ireland and for 13 years its Deputy Governor. On his retirement he became President of the Royal Dublin Society and later he served on the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland. He was Chairman of Baggott Street Hospital, and for many years a Board member of the Smyly Homes. Sport was always a great interest for him – he was Captain and President of both Three Rock Rovers Hockey club and Carrickmines Golf Club. How proud he was of his membership of the MCC. He was a life member of the Hibernian Catch Club, the Friendly Brothers of St Patrick, an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy and an active member of the Kildare Street and University Club. Despite the fact that even the mention of the sea caused this man of so many parts to visibly pale – he was also a member of the Royal Irish Yacht Club. I could never understand that!

There were several key pillars to the life of Robin Lewis-Crosby – his personal faith manifested in his life with his beloved Peggy and a loving family: his service to this city and to Ireland: his professional ability recognized throughout Irish Civic Society – but all had to take their place beside his love for the Church of Ireland.

One of the great strengths of our Church has been the devoted and gifted laity who have so enriched us by their service and contribution to our life as a Church. Robin will long remain for many of us a shining example of such a person. For 84 years Stillorgan was his parish and he occupied most of the lay appointments there. He was a member of the Board of this Cathedral and his love for Christ Church was infectious. It was only natural that as a representative of Dublin Diocese he would play a pivotal role in the work of the Representative Church Body, ‘the RB’, and it was here that many more were to come to rely on his judgement and experience. Nothing seemed too great to ask of him at Church House and rarely did anyone seeking his help turn away disappointed. The Finance Committee, the Priorities Committee, Lay Honorary Secretary of Dublin Diocesan Council, a member of the General Synod and a member of the Committee of Management of the APCK – and I am sure I have left something out.

How grateful I was as Primate and Archbishop of Armagh when Robin accepted my invitation to become a Lay Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. This was one way on behalf of the whole church that I could recognize the uniqueness and faithfulness of his contribution to Church of Ireland life. He and Peggy came frequently to Armagh and he occupied his canon’s stall on special occasions until a few years ago. After her death Robin continued to visit the Cathedral and I am delighted the honour I conferred gave him such pleasure – and was applauded by so many.

The ‘First of All’ report began with those words: ‘The first priority of the Church of Ireland is spiritual – not material’. I cannot help thinking that it would be entirely appropriate to conclude ‘The first priority of Robin Lewis-Crosby was spiritual – not material’. Immersed as he was in the professional life of banking and commerce he shared that knowledge and expertise so freely with us all at central levels – but in all I remember of him that knowledge was no end in itself. It was a means to strengthen his Church, to enhance his Church and to provide its people with good government and the best possible foundation of administration. He cared about the Church of Ireland, he cared about its clergy, but most of all Robin cared about the things of God.

He was one of those people who never ‘carried his faith on his sleeve’. In conversation his sense of humanity and humour shone through. I know of several cases where his generosity confidentially and quietly offered gave a helping hand to someone in trouble. I know of the lengths he was prepared to go to meet the needs of someone encountering hardship. I know, too, how seriously he took the decision-making process he was involved in at central church level. But through it all he had that quiet confidence which could only come from a deeply personal daily walk with his God.

So this morning we thank God for a humble servant of the Church, a respected business man who exercised influence with great integrity, a family man so greatly loved by Peggy, Antony, Patricia and Claire – but most we thank God for a wonderful human being who made such a contribution to all our lives.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

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