James Spencer Northcote
Encyclopedia
James Spencer Northcote was an English Catholic priest and writer.
Grammar School, he won in 1837 a scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he came under John Henry Newman's influence. In 1841 he became B.A., and in the following year married his cousin, Susannah Spencer Ruscombe Poole. Taking Anglican Orders in 1844 he accepted a curacy at Ilfracombe
; but when his wife was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, he resigned his office. In 1846 he himself was converted, being received at Prior Park College
, where he continued as a master for some time.
From June, 1852, until September, 1854, he acted as editor of the Rambler, and about the same time helped to edit the Clifton Tracts. After his wife's death in 1853 he devoted himself to preparation for the priesthood, first under Newman at Edgbaston
, then at the Collegio Pio, Rome. On 29 July 1855, he was ordained priest at Stone
, where his daughter had entered the novitiate.
He returned to Rome to complete his ecclesiastical studies, also acquiring the learning in Christian antiquities which was later to be enshrined in his major work, Roma Sotterranea. In 1857 he was appointed to the mission of Stoke-upon-Trent
, which he served until 1860, when he was called to Oscott College as vice-president, and six months later became president, a position he held for seventeen years. Failing health caused him to resign in 1876, and he returned to the mission, first at Stone (1868), and then at Stoke-upon-Trent (1881).
He had been made a canon of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1861, canon-theologian in 1862, and provost in 1885. In 1861 the pope conferred on him the doctorate in divinity.
.
Other works were:
Life
He was the second son of George Barons Northcote. Educated first at IlmingtonIlmington
Ilmington is a village and civil parish about north-west of Shipston-on-Stour and south of Stratford-on-Avon in the Cotswolds in Warwickshire, England. Ilmington is the highest village in Warwickshire and is at the foot of the Ilmington Downs, which is the highest point in Warwickshire...
Grammar School, he won in 1837 a scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he came under John Henry Newman's influence. In 1841 he became B.A., and in the following year married his cousin, Susannah Spencer Ruscombe Poole. Taking Anglican Orders in 1844 he accepted a curacy at Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
; but when his wife was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, he resigned his office. In 1846 he himself was converted, being received at Prior Park College
Prior Park College
Prior Park College is a Roman Catholic co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils.It is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Bath, in Somerset, in south-west England...
, where he continued as a master for some time.
From June, 1852, until September, 1854, he acted as editor of the Rambler, and about the same time helped to edit the Clifton Tracts. After his wife's death in 1853 he devoted himself to preparation for the priesthood, first under Newman at Edgbaston
Edgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, then at the Collegio Pio, Rome. On 29 July 1855, he was ordained priest at Stone
Stone, Staffordshire
Stone is an old market town in Staffordshire, England, situated about seven miles north of Stafford, and around seven miles south of the city of Stoke-on-Trent. It is the second town, after Stafford itself, in the Borough of Stafford, and has long been of importance from the point of view of...
, where his daughter had entered the novitiate.
He returned to Rome to complete his ecclesiastical studies, also acquiring the learning in Christian antiquities which was later to be enshrined in his major work, Roma Sotterranea. In 1857 he was appointed to the mission of Stoke-upon-Trent
Stoke-upon-Trent
Stoke-upon-Trent, commonly called Stoke or Stoke town, is a component town of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, England....
, which he served until 1860, when he was called to Oscott College as vice-president, and six months later became president, a position he held for seventeen years. Failing health caused him to resign in 1876, and he returned to the mission, first at Stone (1868), and then at Stoke-upon-Trent (1881).
He had been made a canon of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1861, canon-theologian in 1862, and provost in 1885. In 1861 the pope conferred on him the doctorate in divinity.
Works
His scholarly works include the authoritative Roma Sotterranea, on the Catacombs, written in conjunction with William R. Brownlow, afterwards Bishop of CliftonBishop of Clifton
The Bishop of Clifton is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton in the Province of Birmingham, England.The see is in the suburb of Clifton in the city of Bristol where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul...
.
Other works were:
- "The Fourfold Difficulty of Anglicanism" (Derby, 1846);
- "A Pilgrimage to La Salette" (London, 1852);
- "Roman Catacombs" (London, 1857);
- "Mary in the Gospels" (London, 1867);
- "Celebrated Sanctuaries of the Madonna" (London, 1868);
- "A Visit to the Roman Catacombs" (London, 1877);
- "Epitaphs of the Catacombs" (London, 1878).