£800,000 FOR BISHOP.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16749, 16 March 1926, Page 6

£BOO,OOO FOR BISHOP.

FORTUNE FROM AN AUNT. THE RICHEST PRELATE. The Hon. and Most Rev. Benjamin John l J ]unko|t, D.D., who resigned the bishopric of Meath at the beginning of last rutinUi on the ground of ill-health, is probably the. wealthiest church digmlary in Great Britain and Ireland. By the will of his aunt, Olivia Charlotte Lady Ardilaun, a summary of which has been issued by her solicitors; lie inherits property valued at a.>oul £BOO,OOO. The exact value of Lady Ardilaun’s estate lias not yet been ascertained, hut it is estimated at about £900,000. Lady Ardilaun left personal legacies of about £21,000, specific legacies mainly of family inteicst, and annuities of about £I,BOO n year. She also left £20,000 to form the Lady Ardilaun Educational Endowment Trust, two-thirds of the. income to ho applied to the education of the sons of Irish gentlemen members of tiie Church of Ireland who arc in reduced circumstances. The remaining third of the income of the trust is to he used for the education of the sons of clergymen of fhc Church of Ireland. Lady Ardilaun also left £3OO to Mercer’s Hospital, Dublin, io be used lo provide Christmas dinners for the palients and staff. There are a number of charitable bequests and I lie residue goes to Dr. Benjamin Pluiikef. Lady Ardilaun was the widow of Lord Ardilaun, formerly Sir Arthur Guinness, who was made a Peer in 1380, the peerage becoming extinct when he died in 1915. lie was an elder brother of Lord Ivcagh and a member of the famous Guinness family of Dublin.

Lord Ardilaun’s sister, Miss Anne Guinness, married Ihe 4th Lord Plunkel. Archbishop of Dublin, and it is their son, Dr, Plunk'd, lo whom Lady Ardilaun lias left so large. a fortune. Dr. Plunkcl is 55 years of age.