Crosby, Ernest Henry Cornwall Lewis- (1864–1961), dean of Christ Church Cathedral, was born Ernest Henry Cornwall on 28 December 1864 at Rutland Square (Parnell Square), Dublin, the second son of the six children of Robert Allen Cornwall, land agent, and Harriet Elizabeth Cornwall (née Crosby). In 1890, following his elder brother's death, he changed his name to Lewis-Crosby for inheritance reasons. Educated briefly in a preparatory school near Bristol, he then attended Portora Royal School, Enniskillen (1879–83). He was awarded a scholarship to TCD in 1883, graduating with first-class honours in classics in 1888. He was a first prizeman in history and a gold medallist in history and political science. After graduating, he entered Trinity's divinity school (1888–92), where he attained many distinctions. He was ordained in the Church of Ireland on 24 January 1892 and became a curate at Christ Church, Leeson Park, Dublin. He served as secretary (1896–1904) and chairman (1915–54) to the Church of Ireland Mission to the Jews. Crosby was successively rector of Drumcondra and North Strand parish (1904–14), Rathmines (1914–24), and Stillorgan (1924–38), and was also chaplain to the lord lieutenant of Ireland (1908–21). Strongly committed to his parishioners, he set up community groups and encouraged their participation in church life. In 1908 he assisted in drawing up a constitution for the formation of the Dublin battalion of the Girls’ Brigade, of which he became patron in 1958. On 7 June 1912 he married Hilda Darley, with whom he had three sons and two daughters.
Crosby was appointed a canon of Christ Church in 1921 and precentor in 1926. On 30 November 1938, aged seventy-four, he became dean of Christ Church, a post he retained until his death. The preservation and history of Christ Church Cathedral was his lifelong passion: he wrote three books on its history and took great care in its upkeep. He encouraged local groups to hold their annual services in the cathedral and was responsible for the establishment of the annual citizenship Sunday service. Dedicated to the idea of church unity, Crosby was Church of Ireland representative at meetings of the World Council of Churches and the British Council for many years. He was a delegate to the World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh in 1910 and honorary secretary of the Fuh Kien Mission (1895–1904). During the second world war he was involved in repatriating refugees.
Crosby was outspoken against stagnation in church leadership, but his criticisms were often unappreciated. He had his own view of what the church should be and was not afraid to make unpopular decisions. During his time in Drumcondra he appointed a female deaconess, which was unheard of at the time, and while serving in the pro-British parish of Rathmines he took the unpopular step of interceding with the government on behalf of parishioners arrested during the 1916 rising. Éamon de Valera (qv) later praised him for helping some of his close friends at this time.
Crosby was a member of many societies, including the Clerical Ham and Eggs Society, the Benevolent Order of the Friendly Brothers of St Patrick, the Masonic order, the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and the Old Dublin Society. He was life governor of the Adelaide Hospital and of the Royal Hospital of Incurables, governor of St Patrick's Hospital, and a member of the board of Dr Steevens’ Hospital. He helped establish a divinity hostel where students of the divinity school could live and work, providing his house in Mountjoy Square rent-free for three years to facilitate the project.
Crosby was the oldest serving Church of Ireland minister, earning the title of the ‘grand old man’, and remained active right up to his death, retaining zeal and enthusiasm for his work. He died 18 May 1961 in Dublin, aged ninety-six.