John Joseph Hornyold
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Hornyold was an English Catholic bishop, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
, England, and titular Bishop
of Phiomelia.
, Worcestershire
; his mother, Mary, daughter of Sir Pyers Mostyn, Baronet, of Talacre
, Flintshire
. At the age of twenty-two, on 7 August, 1758, he entered the English College at Douai to study for the priesthood. After his ordination he returned to England and served the mission at Grantham
for some time, meeting with persecution and more than once narrowly escaping arrest as a priest.
In 1739 he went as chaplain to Longbirch near Wolverhampton
, the seat of "the good Madam Giffard", a widow. While there he published his first work, The Decalogue Explained, published in London in 1744, and afterwards running through many editions. Bishop John Milner
, in a Memoir of him in the Laity's Directory (1818), says:
In the former of these, The Sacraments Explained (London, 1747), he included several discourses written by his predecessor at Longbirch, the Rev. John Johnson. The book on the Creed was called The Real Principles of Catholicks or a Catechism for the Adult (London, 1749), One of the later editions appeared as Grounds of the Christian Belief or the (Apostles') Creed Explained (Birmingham, 1771). In this book, according to Charles Butler, he made large use of Maurus Corker
's Roman Catholic Principles in Reference to God and the King, but this was denied by Milner.
In 1751 John Talbot Stonor
, the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, applied for a coadjutor and Hornyold was selected. He was consecrated 10 February, 1752, but continued to act as Mrs. Giffard's chaplain until her death, 13 Feb., 1753. Her house was then rented for the use of the vicar Apostolic and Hornyold resided there for the rest of his life.
On Bishop Stonor's death, 29 March, 1756, he succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, for twenty-two years. In 1766, as his health was failing, he obtained the Thomas Talbot
as his coadjutor, and consecrated him in 1767 (not in 1776 as has been erroneously asserted, in consequence of a misprint in Milner's "Memoir"). In 1768 he undertook the responsibility of carrying on Sedgley Park School
, which had been founded, on the initiative of his intimate friend Bishop Challoner, six years previously, and thus preserved it for the Church. He lived just long enough to see the first Catholic Relief Act of 1778, died at Longbirch, Staffordshire
, and was buried in Brewood
churchyard, Staffordshire. There is an oil painting of the bishop at the family seat, Blackmore Park, Worcestershire.
Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to...
, England, and 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 Phiomelia.
Life
He was descended from two ancient Catholic families, his father being John Hornyold, of Blackmore Park and Hanley CastleHanley Castle
Hanley Castle is a village in Worcestershire, England, between the towns of Malvern and Upton upon Severn and a short distance from the River Severn. It lies in the administrative area of Malvern Hills District, and is part of the informal region known as The Malverns...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
; his mother, Mary, daughter of Sir Pyers Mostyn, Baronet, of Talacre
Talacre
Talacre is a village in Flintshire on the North Wales coast with large holiday caravan parks adjacent. It is near Point of Ayr on the west side of the River Dee estuary and has a sandy beach with dunes. The hills of the Clwydian Range behind the village form the eastern boundary of the Vale of Clwyd...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
. At the age of twenty-two, on 7 August, 1758, he entered the English College at Douai to study for the priesthood. After his ordination he returned to England and served the mission at Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
for some time, meeting with persecution and more than once narrowly escaping arrest as a priest.
In 1739 he went as chaplain to Longbirch near Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, the seat of "the good Madam Giffard", a widow. While there he published his first work, The Decalogue Explained, published in London in 1744, and afterwards running through many editions. Bishop 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:...
, in a Memoir of him in the Laity's Directory (1818), says:
- "This was so generally approved of, that he received something like official thanks from Oxford for the publication. It was not to be expected, however, that he should be thanked from that quarter for his other works, which appeared in succession, on the Sacraments and on the Creed."
In the former of these, The Sacraments Explained (London, 1747), he included several discourses written by his predecessor at Longbirch, the Rev. John Johnson. The book on the Creed was called The Real Principles of Catholicks or a Catechism for the Adult (London, 1749), One of the later editions appeared as Grounds of the Christian Belief or the (Apostles') Creed Explained (Birmingham, 1771). In this book, according to Charles Butler, he made large use of Maurus Corker
Maurus Corker
Maurus Corker was an English Benedictine who was accused and imprisoned as part of the Popish Plot.-Life:He was born in Yorkshire. He took the name Maurus when he entered the Benedictine order...
's Roman Catholic Principles in Reference to God and the King, but this was denied by Milner.
In 1751 John Talbot Stonor
John Talbot Stonor
John Talbot Stonor was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District from 1715 to 1756....
, the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, applied for a coadjutor and Hornyold was selected. He was consecrated 10 February, 1752, but continued to act as Mrs. Giffard's chaplain until her death, 13 Feb., 1753. Her house was then rented for the use of the vicar Apostolic and Hornyold resided there for the rest of his life.
On Bishop Stonor's death, 29 March, 1756, he succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, for twenty-two years. In 1766, as his health was failing, he obtained the Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot may refer to:* Thomas Talbot * Thomas Joseph Talbot, Roman Catholic bishop* Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle , English nobleman* Thomas Talbot , governor of Massachusetts...
as his coadjutor, and consecrated him in 1767 (not in 1776 as has been erroneously asserted, in consequence of a misprint in Milner's "Memoir"). In 1768 he undertook the responsibility of carrying on Sedgley Park School
Sedgley Park School, Wolverhampton
Sedgley Park School was a Roman Catholic Academy located on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, then part of Staffordshire.Originally the home of the Barons and Baronesses Dudley until 1757, Sedgley Park School was founded by William Errington, at the recommendation of Bishop Richard Challoner, on 25...
, which had been founded, on the initiative of his intimate friend Bishop Challoner, six years previously, and thus preserved it for the Church. He lived just long enough to see the first Catholic Relief Act of 1778, died at Longbirch, 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...
, and was buried in Brewood
Brewood
Brewood refers both to a settlement, which was once a town but is now a village, in South Staffordshire, England, and to the civil parish of which it is the centre. Located around , Brewood village lies near the River Penk, eight miles north of Wolverhampton city centre and eleven miles south of...
churchyard, Staffordshire. There is an oil painting of the bishop at the family seat, Blackmore Park, Worcestershire.