It is with great sadness that we bring news of the death of the Very Revd Dr Philip Knowles. Dean Knowles, who was Priest in Charge of the Narraghmore Group of Parishes in the Diocese of Glendalough and former Dean of Cashel, who died peacefully on Tuesday morning ( July 2nd).

Dean Knowles was very well known and respected for his devotion to his community when he served as Rector of Christ Church, Gorey, for eight years.

Writing in LINK-Gorey Newsletter (Whit edition 1995), Dean Knowles reflected; “During my tenure in Gorey I was made a Canon of Ferns Cathedral by Bishop Noel Willoughby, and I completed by Ph.D. Little did I know that when the Dean of Cashel, the late David Woodworth died that I would be invited to succeed him.”

Dean Knowles succeeded Archdeacon William Parker who had served in Gorey for almost forty years. “I loved Christ Church, Gorey, and the Harry Clarke windows,” he concluded.

Dean Knowles was educated in Trinity College Dublin and the Church of Ireland Theological College. He was ordained in 1977 and served as a Curate in St Paul’s, Lisburn (Connor). He was incumbent of Cloonclare with Killasnett and Lurganboy (K,E and A) from 1979–87 and of Gorey from 1987–95. He served as Dean of Cashel from 1995 until his retirement in 2013. He has been serving as Priest in Charge in Narraghamore since 2016.

His funeral service will take place on Thursday July 4th at 11 am in St James’ Church in Castledermot.