Rev Andrew Ferguson Smyly

A carte-de-visite portrait of Reverend Andrew Ferguson Smyly.

According to an article on St Columb's Cathedral that appeared in the Londonderry Sentinel (22 March 1887): 'Very Rev. Alexander [sic] Ferguson Smyly, the Dean of Derry and Rector of Templemore, is the son of the late John George Smyly, Esq., Q.C., and of Eliza, sister of the late Sir R.A. Ferguson, Bart., who represented Derry in Parliament for thirty years and whose statue stands at the top of Shipquay-street. He was educated at Tunbridge School and Trinity College, Dublin. Ordained in 1856, he was domestic chaplain to the Earl of Caledon. Mr Smyly's first curacy was at Fahan, then at Lifford, and the rev. gentleman held successively incumbencies at Bantry, Aghaderg, and Drumschose. In 1883 he was appointed Dean of Derry and Rector of Templemore, in succession to the Rev. John Gwynne, D.D., who was appointed Archbishop King's Lecturer in the University of Dublin. The Dean's greatest work in Derry has been the improvement and enlargement of the Cathedral, an undertaking which he initiated and which he has carried to a successful issue almost entirely by his own individual exertion. His great desire is to make the Cathedral and its congregation worthy of the historic edifice and of the city, and if tireless energy and warm enthusiasm can achieve that result it may be regarded as virtually accomplished. The Dean has taken great interest in promoting various agencies of a religious and charitable character connected with the Cathedral and the parish, and has infused new vitality into these organisations.'

The Very Reverend Andrew Ferguson Smyly died on 28 April while staying with his sister at Upper Merrion Street in Dublin. 'The Dean had come to Dublin to attend the Synod apparently in good health, but it was known to his friends that he had been suffering for a lengthened period from an affection of the heart, which assumed a serious form on Tuesday night, and proved fatal at 5 o'clock yesterday morning' (Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor, 29 April 1897).


Photographed by the Lauder Brothers of Dublin.