Walton Empey

Who is Walton Empey?

Walton Newcombe Francis Empey is a retired Church of Ireland bishop. He was formerly the Archbishop of Dublin.

Empey was born in Dublin, the son of the Reverend Francis Fullerton Empey and Mildred May "Mimi" Empey. His father was also a cleric, serving in Donoughmore and Donard, Fenagh and then in Enniscorthy. Empey was educated in local national schools in his father’s parishes and then at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. He then took a BA at Trinity College, Dublin in 1957.

Empey was ordained as a deacon in 1958 and, after being ordained priest in 1959, he was appointed as a curate in St Paul's church, in Glenageary, County Dublin. The following year he moved to Canada, serving the Anglican Church in Canada initially in Grand Falls, New Brunswick and then for three years as Rector of Madawaska.

Empey returned to Ireland in 1966 as Rector of Stradbally, County Laois until 1971, when he was appointed as Dean of Limerick and Rector of Limerick City Parishes. In 1981 he was elected Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe and in 1985 he succeeded Donald Caird as Bishop of Meath and Kildare.