Slideshow image

The Rev. Canon Thomas Herbert O’Driscoll passed away on Thursday, July 25, in Victoria, at the age of 95. He was surrounded by family.  

Herb, as he was known to many, was born in Cork, Ireland in 1928. He attended Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained in 1952 in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

After an early curacy in Dublin, Herb and his wife, Paula, moved to Canada in 1957, where he served in several parishes in Ottawa, and as a Navy chaplain in Halifax. In 1968, Herb took up the position of Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver and Dean of the Diocese of New Westminster. The early 80s saw a brief tenure as Warden of the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Herb then returned to Canada to serve for ten years in the late 80s and early 90s as Rector of Christ Church, Elbow Park in Calgary, Alberta. 

Herb and Paula retired to Victoria in the mid-90s, and Herb served as honorary assistant at the Cathedral.

Herb was, in his own words, “hard-wired for preaching.” He was known for his narrative preaching style and he put his gift with words to use throughout his career, through preaching, devising liturgies and creating hymns, as well as speaking on the radio, writing for newspapers, as a guest speaker, and as the author of over fifty books, including I Will Arise and Go Now (Morehouse Publishing).

Herb is survived by his wife, Paula, his four children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A full obituary can be read on the Faith Tides website. 

A celebration of life will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria at 2pm on Saturday, October 5. For more information, CLICK HERE.

May he rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.