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LEIGHLIN

Volume 11 · 638 words · 1815 Edition

town of Ireland, situated in the county of Carlow, and province of Leinster; about 43 miles from Dublin, near the river Barrow. It is a borough, and formerly returned two members to parliament; patronage in the bishop of the diocese, this being a bishopric united to Ferns. At the east end of the church of Old Leighlin is a famous well covered with great ash trees, and dedicated to St Lafarian. This place was formerly a city, though now a very mean village, and the cathedral has been kept in good repair. It was a sole bishopric, founded in 632, and joined to Ferns in 1600. It is reported, that Gurnmundus a Danish prince was buried in this church. The last bishop of Leighlin before its union with Ferns, was the right reverend Robert Grave, who coming by sea to be installed, suffered shipwreck in the harbour of Dublin, and perished in the waves. This cathedral was burnt to the ground, it is said, by lightning; and rebuilt, A.D. 1232, then dedicated to St Lafarian or Lazarinus, before mentioned; since the fees were joined, it is made use of as a parish church. Leighlin bridge is situated about two miles from this village; it was destroyed by the Irish in 1577. Here are the remains of a castle and of an old abbey. This is a poit town, and has fairs in May, September, and October.

Leighton, Robert, archbishop of Glasgow. During Cromwell's usurpation, he was minister of a church near Edinburgh, and distinguished himself by his charity, and his aversion to religious and political disputes. The ministers were then called over yearly in the synod, and were commonly asked, Whether they had preached to the times? "For God's sake (answered Leighton), when all my brethren preach to the times, suffer me to preach about eternity." His moderation, however, giving offence, he retired to a life of privacy. But soon after, he was called by the unanimous voice of the magistrates, to preside over the college of Edinburgh; where, during ten years, he displayed all the talents of a prudent, wise, and learned governor. Soon after the Restoration, when the ill-judged affair of introducing Episcopacy into Scotland was resolved on, Leighton was consecrated bishop of Dunblane, and immediately gave an instance of his moderation: for when Sharpe and the other bishops intended to enter Edinburgh in a pompous manner, Leighton remonstrated against it; but finding that what he said had no weight, he left them, and went to Edinburgh alone. Leighton, in his own diocese, set such a remarkable example of moderation, that he was revered even by the most rigid of the opposite party. He went about, preaching without any appearance of pomp; he gave all he had to the poor; and removed none of the ministers, however exceptionable he might think their political principles. But finding that none of the other bishops would be induced to join, as he thought, properly in the work, he went to the king, and resigned his bishopric, telling him he would not have a hand in such opprobrious measures. Soon after, the king and council, partly induced by this good bishop's remonstrances, and partly by their own observations, resolved to carry on the cause of Episcopacy in Scotland on a different plan; and with this view, Leighton was persuaded to accept of the archbishopric of Glasgow, on which he made one effort more; but finding it not in his power to stem the violence of the times, he resigned his archbishopric, and retired into Sussex, where he devoted himself to acts of piety. He died in the year 1684. He was of a most amiable disposition, strict in his life, polite, cheerful, engaging in his manners, and profoundly learned. He left many sermons and useful tracts, which are greatly esteemed.