James Margetson

Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh

Lord President of the North, who took him as chaplain to Ireland in 1633. He was made dean of Waterford by patent, 25 May 1635, and in October was presented by the crown to the rectory of Armagh, Cavan. He resigned from Waterford and Armagh in 1637, and in that year became rector of Galloon in Monaghan and dean of Derry. In December 1639 Margetson was made dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. No new dean of Derry was appointed until after the Restoration. It appears from the correspondence of William Laud

Directory of Public Worship instead of the Book of Common Prayer; one bishop and seventeen clergymen, of whom Margetson was one, refused to hold their churches on these terms. Ormonde left Ireland on 28 August 1647, and Margetson fled to England about the same time. He suffered imprisonment at Manchester and elsewhere, but was afterwards allowed to live in London unmolested, but very poor. He was employed by royalists to dispense money among distressed supporters, in England and Wales, and William Chappell

Restoration, on 25 January 1661 he was made Archbishop of Dublin

Sir Phelim O'Neill in 1642, and Margetson lived to see it rebuilt. Subscriptions falling far short of what was wanted, he made up the deficit himself. He also founded a free school at Drighlington. In the winter of 1677, he became disabled by jaundice, but nevertheless, he insisted on communicating publicly in the following May. He died in Dublin, on 28 August 1678, and was buried within the altar rails of Christ Church. Many resorted to his deathbed to receive his last blessing. At his funeral William Palliser