Superintendents of ICM
Rev. Dr. Charles Ffennell McCarthy (Superintendent 1850-1877) In February 1850, Alexander Dallas, the founder of ICM, appointed Charles Ffennell McCarthy, the 33 year-old curate of St. Michan’s, Dublin, to be the first Superintendent of the Irish Church Missions. Under him, Irish Church Missions expanded their work in Dublin, the Mission Church at Townsend Street was opened, and many people were converted to Christ through the weekly ‘Controversial Classes’. His labours and method of engaging in evangelism were to lay the foundation of the Mission’s work for years to come.
Rev. John Dryden Smylie (Superintendent 1877-1883) Educated in Queen’s College Belfast and Cork, John Smylie had served three curacies before becoming Superintendent of ICM in 1877. During his time as Superintendent, ICM’s work amongst the children in Dublin’s slums was significantly increased before ill health forced him to resign unexpectedly in 1883. Mr. Smylie came back into ministry, serving for 32 years as the incumbent of St. Luke’s and St. Nicholas’ Without, Dublin. He died in Bray in 1926.
Rev. Henry Fishe (Superintendent 1883-1894 & 1902-1909) Henry Fishe published the first complete commentary on ‘The 100 Texts of the Irish Church Missions’, which developed the work of Mr. McCarthy and Henry Cory, private secretary to Alexander Dallas. Mr. Fishe’s commentary ran to three editions, the last being in 1904, and which formed the basis for the later work of T. C. Hammond whose revised edition appeared in 1939. During his first period in office, Mr. Fishe began ICM’s itinerating evangelism in towns and fairs around Ireland in the early 1890’s. After his first period in office, he took up a post in St. Paul’s Glenageary, Dublin before returning to ICM in 1902. On retirement in 1909, he went to Lille as Chaplain to the English Congregation, and died there in 1917 when it was under German occupation during W.W.1.
Rev. Philip Bernard Johnson (Superintendent 1894-1902)Having worked for ICM in itinerating evangelism around Ireland, Mr. Johnson became a curate in the Mission Church in 1892. From a missionary family from Wexford, two of his sisters served in the Dublin University Fuh Kien Mission in China. During his time as Superintendent over 100 adult converts were received into the Church of Ireland and hundreds of street children, who attended the Mission Homes and Schools, were confirmed. In 1902, when Mr. Fishe returned to ICM, Mr. Johnson took special charge of ICM’s itinerating evangelism work, visiting Mission stations throughout Ireland. He later became the incumbent at Wicklow for 19 years during which time he was made Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. He died in 1926,
Rev. John Richards Goff (Superintendent 1909-1919) Mr. Goff had been brought up in ICM as his mother had been for 40 years the matron of the Mission Home in Townsend Street. Having served as a curate in the Mission Church (1894-95) and as the Irish Deputation Secretary for ICM from 1898, Mr. Goff succeeded the Rev. Fishe in 1909 as Superintendent. During his time the work of evangelism was extended to army recruitment centres in Ireland. ‘The Banner’ recalls the extensive work amongst soldiers and the appreciative letters sent to ICM from soldiers on the front line. Mr. Goff went on to serve in two churches in County Kildare before retirement in 1942 when he became Chaplain to the Mageough Home until 1950. He died in August 1951.
Rev. Thomas Chatterton Hammond (Superintendent 1919-1936) The most well-known of ICM’s Superintendents, the account of his life and ministry has been described in a previous article. A full account of his life and ministry can be found in Warren Nelson’s ‘T.C.Hammond: Irish Christian’ (Banner of Truth 1994). His contribution not only to ICM, but also to the Evangelical cause around the world, especially in Sydney Diocese, was immense. He died in Australia in 1961.
Rev. William Edward Kenny (Superintendent 1936-1939) W .E. Kenny was ‘a man of extensive scholarship and deep evangelical convictions’ (Banner of Truth, October 1936). Amongst his many university distinctions, he had twice been ‘Archbishop King Prizeman, the holder of Biblical Greek prizes, the Downes Oratory Prize and the Elrington Theological prize. During his time as Superintendent, he was restricted by ill health and resigned on this account after only three years in situ. He went back to Killaloe Diocese where he served in the parish of Lorrha until his death in 1953.
Rev. Thomas Reginald Horan (Superintendent 1940-43 & 1952-62) Upon ordination in 1933, Mr. Horan became T. C. Hammond’s curate, serving also with W. E. Kenny until becoming Superintendent in 1940. In 1943 he left to become an RAF Chaplain, and after the war served in Southwark Diocese before becoming Superintendent of ICM again in 1952. Until his death in 1962 at the age of 53, he was instrumental in bringing quite a few Roman Catholics including some priests to a saving knowledge of Christ. The Trustees record that ‘few could have equalled him in controversial skill and in evangelical zeal.’
Rev. Richard John Coates (Superintendent 1944-47 & 1964-71) As a young Christian in Dublin, Mr. Coates was nurtured by the ministry of T. C. Hammond. After studying for ordination at the BCMS College in Bristol, he was ICM Secretary for the north of England during his first curacy. Open-air services and ‘street preaching’ were particular strengths as was his academic record, being an author and contributor to various academic dictionaries. His ministry in England included 4 years as Warden of Latimer house immediately before taking up his second term as Superintendent. He returned to ministry in England before his death in 1977.
Rev Harold Norton Duncan (Superintendent 1972-74) Chairman of ICM, Mr. Duncan took on the post of Superintendent on a temporary basis. He was a graduate of the BCMS College and one of the first BCMS missionaries to the Eskimos of Baffin Island in the 1930’s. His involvement with ICM arose from a long family history as his father was for many years Clerical Secretary of ICM.
Rev William John Bridcut (Superintendent 1974-2001) The longest serving Superintendent of ICM, Mr. Bridcut was ordained in 1970 when he became Curate in Lisburn Cathedral, N. Ireland. A native of Dundalk, he returned to the the Republic of Ireland to work wiith ICM. He was successfully Chaplain to the Rotunda Hospital and to Arbour Hill Prison in 1988. A diligent and careful scholar, he was the author of many pamphlets on the differences between Roman Catholic and Protestant theology. He died in June 2001.
Rev Edmond James Coulter (Superintendent 2003 - )