LIbrary & Archives, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin

Dear Mrs Westcott,

On 31 January 2001, over 3 years, you wrote to the cathedral archives seeking an image of Archbishop Buchanan, which at the time I didn't have, nor did I have an biographical details.

However, your email remained in my inbox and I was determined to reply to it at some stage. Little did I think it would be so long before I could reply, to the extent that your original email address used was no longer functioning. By way of alternative, I felt the best I could do was to include all the details including your name, so that at some stage you might come across this by way of a search engine.

To the right is a portrait of Archbishop Buchanan and also reproduced below a short biography of the life of Archbishop Buchanan extracted from Leslie and Wallace (eds.), Clergy of Dublin & Glendalough: Biographical succession lists (The Ulster Historical Foundation and the Diocesan Councils of Dublin and Glendalough 2001), p. 437.

I do hope this material is still of interest.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Stuart Kinsella
______________________

Stuart Kinsella, Archives Committee
archives@cccdub.ie
Christ Church Cathedral Dublin
www.cccdub.ie

+ BUCHANAN, Alan Alexander (1907-1984)
b. 1907; ed. Masonic Boys School, Dublin; TCD Jun. Exhib. 1924, Sen. Exhib. 1926, BA (Mod. History) 1928, Div. Test. (2) 1930, MA 1937, DD (jure dign.) 1959.
d. 1930; p. 1931 (Connor); C.TCD Mission, Belfast (Connor) 1930-33; Head TCD Mission, Belfast (Connor) 1933-7; I. Larne (Connor) 1937-45; Chapl. Forces 1942-5 (taken prisoner at Arnhem 1944); I. St Mary's, Belfast (Connor) 1945-55; Rural Dean Mid. Belfast 1951-5; I. Bangor (Down) 1955-8; Preb. Maynooth, St Patrick's Cath. (1957-8); Bishop of Clogher 1958-69; Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Glendalough and Primate of Ireland 1969-77; ret. s. of Hugh, solicitor, of Omagh; m. 11 June 1935 Audrey Kathryn (died 2 Sept. 2000), dau. of W. A. Crone of Newtownards Rd, Belfast. Issue (by adoption): (Ven.) Desiree, Archdeacon of Ottawa; Nicola. Died 4 Feb. 1984; buried at Donacavey, following Service in Christ Church Cathedral.

-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Westcott [mailto:Radiation@btinternet.com]
Sent: 31 January 2001 13:19
To: archives@cccdub.ie
Subject: Revd. Alan Buchanan, Bishop 1958-69

In 1944 Revd Buchanan was an army chaplain & POW in Apeldoorn - towards the end of that year he took considerable care of my Uncle,Robert Ashcroft,a young Private of just 18, writing a series of letters to the family, nursing him until his death & eventually burying him in Oosterbeek. Mother is hoping , at last,to visit Robert's grave & we have been trying to'fill out the picture' for her. We have had help from the Army Chaplains' Dept., but do you have a photograph please? Mother would love to be able to put a face to the name of one who brought much comfort during such a difficult time. Yours hopefully, Elizabeth Westcott (Mrs)