Hugh Gilbert (bishop)
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Hugh Edward Gilbert, OSB
(15 March 1952 - ) is the Bishop of Aberdeen. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
on 4 June 2011. He had previously served as abbot of Pluscarden Abbey
. He was ordained bishop
by Cardinal Keith O'Brien
on 15 August 2011.
Edward Gilbert was born in 1952 in Emsworth
to an Anglican family. He was received into the Catholic Church at age 18, on Christmas Eve of 1970. Educated in various schools in London including Saint Paul's. He then attended King's College
, University of London
and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History in 1974.
He entered the monastery of Pluscarden in Moray
, Scotland, taking the name Hugh, and was later sent to Fort Augustus Abbey for studies and preparation for the priesthood. He made his solemn monastic profession in 1979 and was ordained a priest on the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, 29 June 1982.
At Pluscarden he became sub-prior in 1984, novice master in 1985, and prior in 1990. He was elected abbot of the monastery 29 October 1992 and blessed on 8 December 1992. He was a member of the Council of the Union of Monastic Superiors from 1993 to 1997 and of the Abbot Visitor's Council since 1995. During his time as abbot the community grew to 27 monks.
When the archbishop of Westminster
, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor reached retirement age Fr. Hugh Gilbert was mentioned as a possible successor. It was thought however that he declined the offer. Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Birmingham was appointed instead in 2009.
Hugh Gilbert will be expected to find a way of tackling secularism and boosting church attendance. The Catholic Church has suffered a fall in the size of its congregations in Scotland, in common with much of Europe and with other Christian
denominations in Scotland.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(15 March 1952 - ) is the Bishop of Aberdeen. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 4 June 2011. He had previously served as abbot of Pluscarden Abbey
Pluscarden Abbey
Pluscarden Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery located in the glen of the Black Burn about 10 kilometres south-west of Elgin, in Moray, Scotland...
. He was ordained bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
by Cardinal Keith O'Brien
Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien
Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien is a Scottish Cardinal and the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh of the Roman Catholic Church. O'Brien is currently the only living Cardinal from Scotland....
on 15 August 2011.
Edward Gilbert was born in 1952 in Emsworth
Emsworth
Emsworth is a large village the south coast of England, situated on the Hampshire side of the border between Hampshire and West Sussex. The village lies at the north end of an arm of Chichester Harbour, a large but shallow inlet of the English Channel....
to an Anglican family. He was received into the Catholic Church at age 18, on Christmas Eve of 1970. Educated in various schools in London including Saint Paul's. He then attended King's College
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History in 1974.
He entered the monastery of Pluscarden in Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
, Scotland, taking the name Hugh, and was later sent to Fort Augustus Abbey for studies and preparation for the priesthood. He made his solemn monastic profession in 1979 and was ordained a priest on the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, 29 June 1982.
At Pluscarden he became sub-prior in 1984, novice master in 1985, and prior in 1990. He was elected abbot of the monastery 29 October 1992 and blessed on 8 December 1992. He was a member of the Council of the Union of Monastic Superiors from 1993 to 1997 and of the Abbot Visitor's Council since 1995. During his time as abbot the community grew to 27 monks.
When the archbishop of Westminster
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in England. The archdiocese consists of all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, together with the towns southwest of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames and...
, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor reached retirement age Fr. Hugh Gilbert was mentioned as a possible successor. It was thought however that he declined the offer. Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Birmingham was appointed instead in 2009.
Hugh Gilbert will be expected to find a way of tackling secularism and boosting church attendance. The Catholic Church has suffered a fall in the size of its congregations in Scotland, in common with much of Europe and with other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denominations in Scotland.