Press Releases
FUNERAL OF MRS MERCY SIMMS
Several hundred people attended the Funeral Service at Rathfarnham Parish Church of Mrs Mercy Simms, widow of the former Church of Ireland Primate, Dr. G.O. Simms. Mrs Simms, who was 83 died on Monday, 1 June at New Lodge Nursing Home, Donnybrook.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walton Empey, presided at the service which was conducted by Canon Desmond Harman, Chaplain, New Lodge. Two former Archbishops took part. Dr Henry McAdoo, formerly Archbishop of Dublin, gave the address and prayers in Irish were led by Dr Donald Caird, formerly Archbishop of Dublin.
Also robed for the servcie were Ven. Gordon Linney, Archdeacon of Dublin, Fr Michael Hurley, SJ, Canon Dr William Wynne, formerly Vicar, St Ann's Church Dawson Street and Revd. George Dyke, Rathfarnham Parish.
The readings were by Fr Liam Carey, formerly Director of the Adult Education Centre, St Patrick's College, Maynooth and Dr. Katherine Simms (daughter).
Amongst the attendance were Dr. Art Cosgrave, President UCD, Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien and his wife Maire MacEntee, Dr. Margaret McCurtain, Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, Dr. Christine Meek, TCD, Revd. Terence McCaughey TCD and Mr Ciaran Benson UCD.
Also present were Lady Christine Eames, World President of the Mothers' Union,the Bishop of Meath Kildare, Dr. Richard Clarke, Ven. Raymond Hoey, Archdeacon of Armagh, the Very Revd. Herbert Cassidy, Dean of Armagh and Professor John Bartlett, Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College.
The chief mourners were Mrs Simms' children, Nicholas, Christopher, Katherine, Hilary and John and their families.
OBITUARY
Mercy Felicia Simms born 3 March 1915 only daughter of Brian and Mary Gwynn. The Gwynn family was renowned for its many connections with Trinity College, Dublin.
Scholar of Trinity College 1937
Graduated 1938 BA degree in Italian and French.
Spent a year in Italy doing further studies in Italian
Appointed a lecturer in Italian in TCD in 1941
Married Revd. George Simms, Dean of Residence at TCD in September 1941. He later became secretary/chaplain of The Church of Ireland Training College
Dean of Cork 1952, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross 1952
Archbishop of Dublin 1956
Archbishop of Armagh 1970
Retired to live in Dublin 1980
As well as her work as the wife of a leading churchman Mercy Simms was known for her deep interest in social action and ecumenism. She was involved with the Church of Ireland Social Service Society, the Protestant Child Care Association, the Magdalen Home, the Govenment Advisory Committee on Itinerancy, the Dublin Housing Aid Society.
She was also a member of the Anti-Apartheid Movement; the Irish Association, the Mothers' Union and the Girls' Friendly Society of which she was at one time World President.
Extracts from Dr McAdoo's address:
Mercy had many gifts - gifts of mind and gifts of heart and a practicality of spirit. It was a rare combination and she brought it to all contacts with people and to the work of causes which she supported. Reserved, almost shy, but deeply public-spirited, I have always felt that it was this combination which helped to make her distinctively Mercy.
...as one got to know her and to be delighted by the sharpness of her mind on any and every subject from religion to politics and by her quiet and often pungent sense of humour. I suppose each of us is unique in that none of us is ever replicated.
But she was unique in the sense of being unusually and specially individual. She was her own person, always concerned to get more light on whatever we were discussing for she had a questing mind and an independent spirit.
Further information from:
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Church of Ireland House
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