William Poynter
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The Right Reverend William Poynter | |
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Roman Catholic |
William Poynter (20 May 1762 – 26 November 1827) was an English Catholic priest, bishop as
Life
Early life
Poynter was educated at the
After undergoing eighteen months imprisonment, the collegians were set free, and returned to England in March, 1795. Poynter with the students from the South of England went to Old Hall at Ware, Hertfordshire, where he took a leading part in the foundation of St. Edmund's College, being first vice-president, then (1801–13) president.[1]
Apostolic vicar
In 1803, in light of the declining health of Bishop
His position was rendered difficult by the persistent attacks of
Quarantotti's Rescript was withdrawn, and in its place was substituted a Letter to Dr. Poynter, dated from Genoa, where the pope had taken refuge during the
During his episcopate Poynter paid four visits to Paris of several months each (1814, 15, 17, and 22), with the object of reclaiming the property of the colleges at Douai and elsewhere, which had been confiscated during the Revolution. He received the support of the
He succeeded eventually in recovering the colleges themselves and about £30,000 which had been kept in the names of the bishops, but the main claim amounting to £120,000 was lost. The French paid it to the British commissioners, but these refused to hand it over, on the plea that it would be applied to purposes considered by English law as "superstitious".[4] The final decision was given in November, 1825.
Works
His principal works are:
- Theological Examinations of Columbanus (London, 1811);
- Epistola Apologetica, tr. by Butler (London, 1820), also appeared in Butler, "Hist. Mem.", 3rd edition;
- Prayerbook for Catholic Sailors and Soldiers (London, 1858);
- Evidences of Christianity (London, 1827);
- New Year's Gift in Directories (1813–28); numerous pamphlets, pastorals etc.
Portraits
A portrait of Bishop Poynter by Ramsay (1803) hangs at St Edmund's College, Ware; another in the Catholic Directory for 1829; also a bust by Turnerelli, and another at Moorfields.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c Ward, Bernard. "William Poynter." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 11 January 2019
- ^ Phillips, Peter, ed., The Diaries of Bishop William Poynter, V.A. (1815-1824, Catholic Record Society (London, 2006), Introduction, at p.6.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- ISBN 9780199677948
Sources
- Thompson Cooper in the Dictionary of National Biography
- Joseph Gillow, Dict. Eng. Cath.;
- John Kirk, Biographies (London, 1909):
- Brady, Episcopal Succession (London, 1877)
- Amherst, Cath. Emancipation (London, 1886);
- Bernard Nicholas Ward, History of St. Edmund's College (London, 1893);
- ____, Catholic London a Century Ago (London, 1905);
- ____, Dawn of Catholic Revival (London, 1909);
- Husenbeth, Life of Milner (Dublin, 1862);
- Butler, Hist. Mem. (3rd ed., London, 1822);
- Laity's Directory (1829);
- Catholic Miscellany;
- Orthodox Journal.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "William Poynter". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.