Daniel Rock
Encyclopedia
Daniel Rock (31 August 1799, Liverpool
– 28 November 1871 Kensington
, London
) was an English
Roman Catholic priest, ecciesiologist and antiquarian. He was educated at St. Edmund's College
, Old Hall, where he studied from April, 1813, to December, 1818. There he came under the influence of the Rev. Louis Havard from whom he acquired his first interest in liturgy, and was the intimate friend of Mark Aloysius Tierney
. He was then chosen as one of the first students sent to reopen the English College at Rome
, where he remained until he took the degree of D.D. in 1825. He had been ordained priest, 13 March 1824. On his return to London he becomes assistant priest at St. Mary's, Moorfields
, until 1827, when he was appointed domestic chaplain to John, Earl of Shrewsbury
, with whom he had contracted a friendship based on similarity of tastes while at Rome. He accordingly resided at Alton Towers
, Staffordshire
, till 1840, with the exception of two years during which Lord Shrewsbury's generosity enabled him to stay at Rome collecting materials for his great work, Hierurgia or the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which was published in 1833. He had previously published two short works: Transubstantiation vindicated from the strictures of the Rev. Maurice Jones (1830), and The Liturgy of the Mass and Common Vespers for Sundays (1832).
In 1840 he became chaplain to Sir Robert Throckmorton
of Buckland
(then in Berkshire
nowadays in Oxfordshire
), and while there wrote his greatest book, The Church of Our Fathers, in which he studies the Sarum Rite and other medieval liturgical observances. This work, which has profoundly influenced liturgical study in England and which caused his recognition as the leading authority on the subject, was published in 1849 (vols. I and II) and 1853-4 (vol. III). After 1840 Dr. Rock was a prominent member of the Adelphi, an association of London priests who were working together for the restoration of the hierarchy. When this object was achieved, he was elected one of the first canons of Southwark (1852). Shortly after, he ceased parochial work, and having resided successfully at Newick, Surrey (1854-64), he went to live near the South Kensington
Museum in which he took the keenest interest and to which he proved of much service. His Introduction to the Catalogue of Textile Fabrics in that Museum has been separately reprinted (1876) and is of great authority. He also contributed frequent articles to the Archæological Journal, the Dublin Review
, and other periodicals. For many years before his death he held the honourable position of President of the Old Brotherhood of the English Secular Clergy.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
– 28 November 1871 Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Roman Catholic priest, ecciesiologist and antiquarian. He was educated at St. Edmund's College
St. Edmund's College
There are a number of colleges named after Saint Edmund. These include:*St Edmund's College, Cambridge, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge*St Edmund's College, Ware*St Edmund's College, Canberra*St. Edmund's College, Shillong...
, Old Hall, where he studied from April, 1813, to December, 1818. There he came under the influence of the Rev. Louis Havard from whom he acquired his first interest in liturgy, and was the intimate friend of Mark Aloysius Tierney
Mark Aloysius Tierney
Mark Aloysius Tierney was an English Catholic historian.-Life:After his early schooling with the Franciscans in Baddesley Green, Warwickshire, he was educated at St. Edmund's College, old Hall, which he entered in 1810 and where he was ordained priest, 19 Sept., 1818...
. He was then chosen as one of the first students sent to reopen the English College at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he remained until he took the degree of D.D. in 1825. He had been ordained priest, 13 March 1824. On his return to London he becomes assistant priest at St. Mary's, Moorfields
Moorfields
In London, the Moorfields were one of the last pieces of open land in the City of London, near the Moorgate. The fields were divided into three areas, the Moorfields proper, just north of Bethlem Hospital, and inside the City boundaries, and Middle and Upper Moorfields to the north.After the Great...
, until 1827, when he was appointed domestic chaplain to John, Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the peerage of England.-First creation, 1074:The first creation occurred in 1074 for Roger de Montgomerie, one of William the Conqueror's principal counselors...
, with whom he had contracted a friendship based on similarity of tastes while at Rome. He accordingly resided at Alton Towers
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, till 1840, with the exception of two years during which Lord Shrewsbury's generosity enabled him to stay at Rome collecting materials for his great work, Hierurgia or the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which was published in 1833. He had previously published two short works: Transubstantiation vindicated from the strictures of the Rev. Maurice Jones (1830), and The Liturgy of the Mass and Common Vespers for Sundays (1832).
In 1840 he became chaplain to Sir Robert Throckmorton
Robert Throckmorton
Sir Robert Throckmorton of Coughton Court, MP, KG was a distinguished English Tudor courtier.-Overview:...
of Buckland
Buckland, Oxfordshire
Buckland is a village and civil parish about northeast of Faringdon in the Vale of White Horse District. Buckland was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Character and geography:...
(then in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
nowadays in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
), and while there wrote his greatest book, The Church of Our Fathers, in which he studies the Sarum Rite and other medieval liturgical observances. This work, which has profoundly influenced liturgical study in England and which caused his recognition as the leading authority on the subject, was published in 1849 (vols. I and II) and 1853-4 (vol. III). After 1840 Dr. Rock was a prominent member of the Adelphi, an association of London priests who were working together for the restoration of the hierarchy. When this object was achieved, he was elected one of the first canons of Southwark (1852). Shortly after, he ceased parochial work, and having resided successfully at Newick, Surrey (1854-64), he went to live near the South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
Museum in which he took the keenest interest and to which he proved of much service. His Introduction to the Catalogue of Textile Fabrics in that Museum has been separately reprinted (1876) and is of great authority. He also contributed frequent articles to the Archæological Journal, the Dublin Review
Dublin Review (Catholic periodical)
The Dublin Review was an influential Catholic periodical founded in 1836 by Michael Joseph Quin, Cardinal Wiseman and Daniel O'Connell. Quin had the original idea for the new journal, soon persuading Wiseman to lend his support, and next enlisting O'Connell whose Catholic Emancipation campaign he...
, and other periodicals. For many years before his death he held the honourable position of President of the Old Brotherhood of the English Secular Clergy.