Apostolic Vicariate of England

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The Apostolic Vicariate of
England (and Wales)
Location
CountryEngland and Wales
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
Established1623
Dissolved30 January 1688
Map

The Apostolic Vicariate of England (and Wales) was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the

vicar apostolic (or apostolic vicar) who was a titular bishop. The apostolic vicariate
was created in 1623 and was divided into four districts in 1688.

Background

Soon after the accession of

Queen Elizabeth I, in 1559, the bishops of England and Wales were forced to choose between taking the Oath of Supremacy, thus denying the authority of the Pope, and losing their episcopal sees. Those who chose to continue their allegiance to Rome were subsequently deposed and replaced in their sees by priests of the Church of England. Most of the deposed Bishops were imprisoned in various locations and died in captivity over a period of years, though some left the country and continued their work overseas. The last of the deposed bishops was Thomas Goldwell, Bishop of St Asaph, who died in Rome
on April 3, 1585.

Apostolic Vicariate of England (and Wales)

In 1623, after 65 years of formal absence from England,

Apostolic Vicar of England.[2] Bishop landed secretly in England at midnight on 31 July 1623, but was to die only nine months later.[3]

Bishop was succeeded in office by

dean and chapter
of rather unsure legal status, first established by Bishop and confirmed by Smith.

It was only in 1685 that a successor was appointed by Rome, in the person of John Leyburn,[5] a Doctor of Divinity of the Sorbonne and a former President of the English College at Douai, who was consecrated bishop in Rome on 9 September 1685. In 1623, Bishop had divided England into six areas, at the head of each of which he placed a superior with the title of vicar general, and this had remained the system thereafter. Leyburn reduced these six areas to four. In the summer of 1687 he toured the North of England and confirmed over 20,000 Catholics there.

On 30 January 1688, the number of bishops in England and Wales was increased by the Pope to four vicars apostolic, as a result of which the single apostolic vicariate was divided into the London, Midland, Northern and Western districts.[6][7]

Office holders

List of Archpriests

Archpriests of England (and Wales)
From Until Incumbent Notes
1598 1608 George Blackwell Appointed in March 1598, became involved in the Archpriest Controversy and removed from his position on 1 February 1608, died in The Clink on 12 January 1613
1608 1614 George Birkhead Appointed on 1 February 1608 and died in office on 6 April 1614
1615 1621 William Harrison Appointed on 23 February 1615 and died in office on 11 May 1621
In 1623, the Apostolic Vicariate of England (and Wales) was established

List of Vicars Apostolic

Vicars Apostolic of England (and Wales)
From Until Incumbent Notes
1623 1624
Chalcedon
 Appointed vicar apostolic on 15 March 1623 and
consecrated titular bishop
on 4 June 1623. Died in office on 13 April 1624.
1624 1632 Richard Smith,
Titular Bishop of Chalcedon		 Appointed vicar apostolic on 29 November 1624 and consecrated titular bishop on 12 June 1625. Resigned in 1632 and died on 18 March 1655.
1632 1685 Vacant[8]
1685 1688 John Leyburn,
Titular Bishop of Adramyttium		 Appointed vicar apostolic on 24 August 1685 and consecrated titular bishop on 9 September 1685. Became
Vicar Apostolic of the London District
on 30 January 1688.
In 1688, England and Wales was divided into four apostolic vicariates – the London, Midland, Northern and Western districts.

See also

References

  1. ^ Schofield & Skinner 2009, p. 7.
  2. ^ Brady 1876c, pp. 68–73.
  3. ^ Brady 1876c, p. 73.
  4. ^ Brady 1876c, pp. 74–103.
  5. ^ Brady 1876c, pp. 140–144.
  6. ^ Brady 1876c, pp. 145–146.
  7. ^ Schofield & Skinner 2009, pp. 14, 87, 143, 197.
  8. ^ Brady 1876c, pp. 104–139.

Bibliography

  • Brady, W. Maziere (1876c). The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, A.D. 1400 to 1875. Vol. 3. Rome: Tipografia Della Pace.
  • Hemphill, Basil (1953). The Early Vicars Apostolic of England 1685-1750. London: Burns & Oates.
  • Schofield, Nicholas; Skinner, Gerard (2009). The English Vicars Apostolic. Oxford: Family Publications.
    ISBN 978-1-907380-01-3
    .
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