George Montgomery (bishop)
Encyclopedia
The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Montgomery (1562–1621) was a Scottish
churchman, promoted by James VI and I to Irish bishoprics.
in 1603, he was appointed the first Protestant Bishop of Raphoe
, in 1605. There he began the construction of The Cathedral Church of St. Eunan
. At the same time he was made Bishop of Clogher
and Bishop of Derry
; and in 1607 lobbied Lord Salisbury
for the establishment of free schools in Ulster
. From 1609 he assisted in the plantation of Scots in western Ulster.
From 1610 he was Bishop of Meath
, retaining the Norwich deanery to 1614, and the Raphoe bishopric for the rest of his life. Bishop Montgomery was also rector of Chedzoy
.
and sister of the 1st Earl of Meath
. He had one daughter Jane, who married Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
. Her father, who had accumulated great wealth, was able to provide a dowry of £3000, a great sum at the time.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
churchman, promoted by James VI and I to Irish bishoprics.
Life
He was the brother of Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery, who used his influence on George's behalf. After James I had made him Dean of NorwichDean of Norwich
The Dean of Norwich is the head of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral in Norwich, England. The current Dean is the Very Revd Graham Charles Morell Smith.*1538-1539 William Castleton, first dean*1539-1554 John Salisbury*1554-1557 John Christopherson...
in 1603, he was appointed the first Protestant Bishop of Raphoe
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, in 1605. There he began the construction of The Cathedral Church of St. Eunan
The Cathedral Church of St. Eunan
The Cathedral Church of St. Eunan in Raphoe, County Donegal, is one of the two Church of Ireland Cathedrals in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. Much of the modern building was started by the first Church of Ireland Bishop of Raphoe, The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Montgomery....
. At the same time he was made Bishop of Clogher
Bishop of Clogher
The Bishop of Clogher is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and the other of the Roman Catholic Church.-History:Clogher is one...
and Bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
; and in 1607 lobbied Lord Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
for the establishment of free schools in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. From 1609 he assisted in the plantation of Scots in western Ulster.
From 1610 he was Bishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, retaining the Norwich deanery to 1614, and the Raphoe bishopric for the rest of his life. Bishop Montgomery was also rector of Chedzoy
Chedzoy
Chedzoy is a civil parish village east of Bridgwater in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.-History:The village is at the western end of King's Sedgemoor and lies on an 'island' of Burtle marine sands, close to King's Sedgemoor Drain. The area was settled possibly in the Mesolithic...
.
Family
He married firstly Susan Steyning, and secondly Elizabeth Brabazon, daughter of the 1st Baron BrabazonBaron Brabazon
Baron Brabazon may refer to:*A secondary title of the Earl of Meath*Baron Brabazon of Tara...
and sister of the 1st Earl of Meath
Earl of Meath
Earl of Meath is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1627 and held by the head of the Brabazon family. This family descends from Sir Edward Brabazon, who represented County Wicklow in the Irish House of Commons and served as High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1606. In 1616 he was raised to...
. He had one daughter Jane, who married Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth was an Anglo-Irish nobleman of the seventeenth century. The Lord of Howth for over a century had played a crucial role in Irish politics; but Nicholas unlike his predecessors, preferred a private life...
. Her father, who had accumulated great wealth, was able to provide a dowry of £3000, a great sum at the time.
Character
He was praised in his time as " no lazy bishop nor idle patriot" and called the " darling and chief advocate of the Church of Ireland". He was also noted for his loyalty to his brother Lord Montgomery, his " best and closest friend".Further reading
- Henry A. Jefferies, George Montgomery, first Protestant Bishop of Clogher (1605-1621). Clogher Record: Journal of the Clogher Historical Society, 16:3 (1999), 127-29. ISSN 0412-8079.