The Rev Henry Richard Dawson

The Very Revd. Henry Dawson was Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for 12 years in the mid-19th century. There are two entries in the inscription on his monument that speak volumes about his faith in Jesus. The first states “his happiness was found in labours for the poor” and the second reads, “his spirit rests with the Saviour he loved and glorified”.

Dean Dawson obviously felt that helping those in need was something that he was called upon by God to do. After all, when Jesus walked on this Earth, his primary ministry was to the poor and needy. Jesus, when he spoke for the first time in the synagogue, said that he was the fulfilment of Scripture, when he read from the Book of Isaiah the following words:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."

Dean Dawson followed in Jesus’ footsteps. His faith was in Jesus, the Saviour he loved and glorified, and the Saviour who loved him. He died aged only forty-seven of a fever caught while visiting sick people in a poor mining parish in Co. Kilkenny.