Gilbert, Rev Claudius. 1668-1690.
Gilbert styled himself “Minister of Belfast”. A son, also named Claudius was born in Belfast in 1670. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a fellow 1693 - 1735 and Vice-Provost in 1716. The largest gift to the famous library of TCD was given by Gilbert who collected about 12,000 items over several decades with the express intention of embellishing the library. In 1735 he was appointed Rector of Ardstraw, County Tyrone.In 1743 he presented two large silver communion flagons to the congregation of old St Anne's. The Latin inscription denotes that they were "a gift from the Rev Claudius Gilbert, Professor of Divinity in Trinity College, Dublin, who was born in Belfast in 1670." These flagons are still in use in the Cathedral.
