Charles Ovenden


Charles Thomas Ovenden was an Irish Anglican priest, author, and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin of the Church of Ireland.
Born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland he was educated at the Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and Trinity College, Dublin. Ordained in 1870, his first position was as a curate at Magdalene Church, Belfast. Later he was Rector of Dunluce, County Antrim and then Succentor at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He was Rector of Portrush from 1884 to 1886 when he became Precentor of Clogher. In 1903 he became Dean of Clogher before moving to Dublin in 1911. During World War I he protested the German submarine actions and while the Dean of St. Patrick's Church was quoted by The Telegraph as saying that he prays with all heart "that knavish tricks might be confounded".
He married Isabella Mary Ovenden in 1871. They had one daughter, Florence Irene Harriet Wynne-Finch, and they also raised Charles Ovenden's niece Ella Webb.