John Douglass (bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Douglass was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar Apostolic of the London District
from 1790.
, in December 1743, and was sent at the age of thirteen to the English College, Douai
. There he took the college oath in 1764, and defended universal divinity cum laude in 1768. He went to the English College, Valladolid
, as professor of humanities, arriving there 27 June 1768. At a later period he taught philosophy. Suffering from poor health, he left Valladolid 30 July 1773, and was priest of the mission of Linton
and afterwards at York
.
While he was a missioner at York he was selected by the Holy See for the London vicariate in opposition to efforts made by the ‘catholic committee’ to have Charles Berington
translated from the Midland to the London district. The appointment caused controversy, and Berington addressed a printed letter to the London clergy, resigning every pretension to the London vicariate. Opposition to Douglass was withdrawn, and he succeeded James Talbot
as vicar-apostolic of the London district. His briefs to the titular see
of Centuria
were dated 25 September 1790, and he was consecrated 19 December the same year, in St. Mary's Church, Lulworth Castle
, Dorset
, by William Gibson
, titular bishop
of Acanthus, and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District.
The Catholic Relief Act, passed in June 1791, repealed the statutes of recusancy
in favour of persons taking the Irish oath of allegiance of 1778. It was Douglass who suggested that this oath should replace the oath which was proposed during the debates on the measure and warmly discussed by the contending parties. The act likewise repealed the oath of supremacy imposed in the reign of William and Mary, as well as various declarations and disabilities; and it tolerated the schools and religious worship of Roman Catholics. He was a determined opponent of the veto
, and he censured the Blanchardist schismatics. St. Edmund's College, Old Hall Green, owed its existence to Douglass, with its president Gregory Stapleton
settling there with his students at the his invitation from 15 August 1795, after their imprisonment during the French Revolution
.
Douglass was one of the first members of the ‘Roman Catholic Meeting,’ organised in May 1794, in opposition to the Cisalpine Club
. John Milner
submitted his Letters to a Prebendary to Douglass for revision. Douglass erased nearly one-half of the original contents before sending it back to the author, who printed the work in its curtailed form.
Douglass died at his residence in Castle Street, Holborn, on 8 May 1812. William Poynter
, who had been appointed his coadjutor in 1803, succeeded him in the vicariate-apostolic of the London district.
Vicar Apostolic of the London District
The Vicar Apostolic of the London District was the title given to the bishop who headed an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England, the Vicariate Apostolic of the London District, from 1688 to 1850.-Background:...
from 1790.
Life
He was born at Yarum, YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, in December 1743, and was sent at the age of thirteen to the English College, Douai
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
. There he took the college oath in 1764, and defended universal divinity cum laude in 1768. He went to the English College, Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
, as professor of humanities, arriving there 27 June 1768. At a later period he taught philosophy. Suffering from poor health, he left Valladolid 30 July 1773, and was priest of the mission of Linton
Linton
-Places:Australia* Linton, Victoria* Linton bushfireCanada* Linton, Ontario* Linton, QuebecEngland* Linton, Cambridgeshire* Linton, Derbyshire* Linton, Essex* Linton, Herefordshire** Linton, Bringsty near Bromyard, Herefordshire...
and afterwards at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
While he was a missioner at York he was selected by the Holy See for the London vicariate in opposition to efforts made by the ‘catholic committee’ to have Charles Berington
Charles Berington
Charles Berington was an English Catholic bishop, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District and Titular Bishop of Hiero-Caesarea.-Life:...
translated from the Midland to the London district. The appointment caused controversy, and Berington addressed a printed letter to the London clergy, resigning every pretension to the London vicariate. Opposition to Douglass was withdrawn, and he succeeded James Talbot
James Talbot
James Talbot was the last English Roman Catholic priest to be indicted in the public courts for saying Mass.He was born in Isleworth, Middlesex on 28 June 1726, a younger son of the Honourable George Talbot and Mary FitzWilliam...
as vicar-apostolic of the London district. His briefs to the titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of Centuria
Centuria
Centuria is a Latin substantive from the stem centum , denoting units consisting of 100 men. It also denotes a Roman unit of land area: 1 centuria = 100 heredia...
were dated 25 September 1790, and he was consecrated 19 December the same year, in St. Mary's Church, Lulworth Castle
Lulworth Castle
Lulworth Castle, in East Lulworth, Dorset, situated south of Wool, is an early 17th century mock castle. The stone building has now been re-built as a museum....
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, by William Gibson
William Gibson (bishop)
William Gibson was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1790 to 1821.Born in Stonecroft, near Hexham, Northumberland on 2 February 1738, the son of Jasper Gibson and Margaret Gibson . He was ordained to the priesthood in 1764...
, titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Acanthus, and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District.
The Catholic Relief Act, passed in June 1791, repealed the statutes of recusancy
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
in favour of persons taking the Irish oath of allegiance of 1778. It was Douglass who suggested that this oath should replace the oath which was proposed during the debates on the measure and warmly discussed by the contending parties. The act likewise repealed the oath of supremacy imposed in the reign of William and Mary, as well as various declarations and disabilities; and it tolerated the schools and religious worship of Roman Catholics. He was a determined opponent of the veto
Royal veto of the appointment of bishops
A proposed Royal veto of the appointment of bishops was a contentious topic in the politics of the United Kingdom, in the period 1808 to 1829. According to the proposal, any restoration of the full episcopal hierarchy of the Catholic Church, in Great Britain, should be subject to a veto of the...
, and he censured the Blanchardist schismatics. St. Edmund's College, Old Hall Green, owed its existence to Douglass, with its president Gregory Stapleton
Gregory Stapleton
-Life:Born at Carlton, Yorkshire, he was seventh son of Nicholas Stapleton, by his third wife, Winifred, daughter of John White of Dover Street, London. He went to the English College, Douay, in 1762. Ten years later, then a deacon, he was appointed professor of music...
settling there with his students at the his invitation from 15 August 1795, after their imprisonment during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Douglass was one of the first members of the ‘Roman Catholic Meeting,’ organised in May 1794, in opposition to the Cisalpine Club
Cisalpine Club
The Cisalpine Club was an association of Roman Catholic laymen formed in England in the 1790s to promote Cisalpinism, and played a role in the public debate surrounding the progress of Catholic Emancipation.- Overview :...
. John Milner
John Milner (bishop)
John Milner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and writer who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District from 1803 to 1826.-Early life:...
submitted his Letters to a Prebendary to Douglass for revision. Douglass erased nearly one-half of the original contents before sending it back to the author, who printed the work in its curtailed form.
Douglass died at his residence in Castle Street, Holborn, on 8 May 1812. William Poynter
William Poynter
William Poynter was an English Catholic priest, bishop as vicar apostolic in London.-Life:He was educated at the English College at Douai, where he was ordained in 1786...
, who had been appointed his coadjutor in 1803, succeeded him in the vicariate-apostolic of the London district.