Church in Jamaica mourns death of Archbishop Clarke 

Archbishop Emeritus Edgerton Clarke of Kingston passed away “peacefully” February 13, just one day before his 96th birthday, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Rectory in Kingston, where he had been residing.

His death was confirmed by Archbishop Kenneth Richards of Kingston in a statement sent the same day to Bishop John Persaud of Mandeville, as well as to the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Dioceses of Mandeville and Montego Bay.

The announcement expressed the Archbishop’s “deep sadness” at the passing. He offered gratitude for Archbishop Clarke’s dedicated service to the Archdiocese of Kingston, the Diocese of Montego Bay, the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), and the wider Catholic Church.

Born in Jamaica, Archbishop Emeritus Clarke was ordained a priest in February 1960. He served as Bishop of Montego Bay and the Antilles for 27 years before being appointed Archbishop of Kingston in November 1994. He retired in February 2004, as noted in a Facebook post from the AEC.

During the priestly ordination of four new priests on February 2 (see page 21), Archbishop Richards commented that the day also marked the 65th anniversary of Archbishop Clarke’s ordination. “His life is slowly passing and so we pray that indeed he’ll be at peace as he awaits welcome into the Heavenly Kingdom,” he said. Funeral arrangements will be shared at a later date.