Joseph Berington
Encyclopedia
Joseph Berington was one of the prominent British Catholic writers of his day.
, Herefordshire
, was educated at the English College at Douai
. After his ordination to the priesthood he was promoted to the chair of philosophy in the university there. In this position his inclination towards liberal opinions became apparent, and his theses, prepared for the exhibition of his pupils, created such a stir that he thought it prudent to resign.
On his return to England, he occupied several positions in turn, each intended to give him leisure to pursue his studies. From 1776 to 1782 he was chaplain to Thomas Stapleton
, of Carlton, Yorkshire, acting at the same time as tutor to his son, with whom he afterwards travelled around Europe. We next find him at St Mary's College, Oscott, then a lonely country mission, where his cousin, Charles Berington
, who had been appointed coadjutor bishop, joined him.
Both the Beringtons were of the same caste of mind; both were favourers of the committee appointed to represent the Catholics in their struggle for emancipation
; which gained for itself a reputation for its liberalizing principles, and the generally anti-episcopal tendency of its action. The Midland District was the chief centre of these opinions, and fifteen of the clergy of Staffordshire
formed themselves into an association of which Joseph Berington was the leader, the primary object being to stand by their bishop, Thomas Talbot
, who was partly on that side. Afterwards, however, they were led into other action, especially in taking up the case of Rev. Joseph Wilkes
, who had been suspended by his bishop in consequence of his action on the committee, which laid them open to criticism.
Joseph Berington was by this time becoming well known as an author with an attractive style of writing, and advanced views. His State and Behaviour of English Catholics (1780) contained more than one passage of doubtful orthodoxy; his History of Abelard(1784) brought into prominence the same philosophical tendencies which had before manifested at Douai; and his Reflexions, addressed to Rev. J. Hawkins, an apostate priest (1785 and 1788), were much criticized; while perhaps more than all, the Memoirs of Panzani
, which he edited with an Introduction and Supplement (1793), gave him the reputation of being a disloyal Catholic. Under these circumstances, when Sir John Throckmorton
of Buckland (then in Berkshire
nowadays in Oxfordshire
appointed Berington his chaplain, Dr. Douglass, Bishop of the London District (in which Buckland was situated), refused to give him faculties, till in 1797 he printed a letter explaining his views, which the bishop considered satisfactory. A year or two later, Dr. Douglass again suspended him, until he signed a further declaration in 1801.
Berington passed the remainder of his life at Buckland, where he wrote the most extensive of all his works, The Literary History of the Middle Ages (1811). He published many other books at different times; but some of his writings remained in manuscript, lest their publication should give offence. In private life Joseph Berington was a model priest, exact in the discharge of his duties, and noted for his charity to the poor. He was respected by all who knew him, Catholic and Protestant alike, and after his death a slab was erected in his memory in the Protestant church at Buckland with an inscription written by his friend, Rev. John Bew
, formerly President of Oscott.
, in the Catholic Directory for 1832. Berington's works (besides those mentioned in the text) are:
Attribution
Life
Joseph Berington, born at WinsleyWinsley
Winsley is a village and civil parish west of Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire.-Geography:Winsley is distinctly split into the Old Winsley Village and the Tyning Estate. Some public services can be found in the centre of either of these areas. The B3108 road once passed through the old village but a...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county 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 Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, was educated at the English College at Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. After his ordination to the priesthood he was promoted to the chair of philosophy in the university there. In this position his inclination towards liberal opinions became apparent, and his theses, prepared for the exhibition of his pupils, created such a stir that he thought it prudent to resign.
On his return to England, he occupied several positions in turn, each intended to give him leisure to pursue his studies. From 1776 to 1782 he was chaplain to Thomas Stapleton
Thomas Stapleton
Thomas Stapleton was an English Catholic controversialist.-Life:He was the son of William Stapleton, one of the Stapletons of Carlton, Yorkshire. He was educated at the Free School, Canterbury, at Winchester College, and at New College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow, 18 January 1553...
, of Carlton, Yorkshire, acting at the same time as tutor to his son, with whom he afterwards travelled around Europe. We next find him at St Mary's College, Oscott, then a lonely country mission, where his cousin, Charles Berington
Charles Berington
Charles Berington was an English Catholic bishop, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District and Titular Bishop of Hiero-Caesarea.-Life:...
, who had been appointed coadjutor bishop, joined him.
Both the Beringtons were of the same caste of mind; both were favourers of the committee appointed to represent the Catholics in their struggle for emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
; which gained for itself a reputation for its liberalizing principles, and the generally anti-episcopal tendency of its action. The Midland District was the chief centre of these opinions, and fifteen of the clergy of 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...
formed themselves into an association of which Joseph Berington was the leader, the primary object being to stand by their bishop, 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...
, who was partly on that side. Afterwards, however, they were led into other action, especially in taking up the case of Rev. Joseph Wilkes
Joseph Wilkes
Joseph Wilkes was an 18th-century English industrialist and agricultural improver born in the village of Overseal in Derbyshire but more commonly associated with the village of Measham in Leicestershire....
, who had been suspended by his bishop in consequence of his action on the committee, which laid them open to criticism.
Joseph Berington was by this time becoming well known as an author with an attractive style of writing, and advanced views. His State and Behaviour of English Catholics (1780) contained more than one passage of doubtful orthodoxy; his History of Abelard(1784) brought into prominence the same philosophical tendencies which had before manifested at Douai; and his Reflexions, addressed to Rev. J. Hawkins, an apostate priest (1785 and 1788), were much criticized; while perhaps more than all, the Memoirs of Panzani
Gregorio Panzani
Gregorio Panzani was an Italian Catholic priest, who became Bishop of Mileto and a papal emissary to England during the reign of King Charles I of England....
, which he edited with an Introduction and Supplement (1793), gave him the reputation of being a disloyal Catholic. Under these circumstances, when Sir John Throckmorton
John Throckmorton
Sir John Throckmorton was a lawyer and member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. He was also a witness to Queen Mary's will.-Biography:...
of Buckland (then in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
nowadays in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
appointed Berington his chaplain, Dr. Douglass, Bishop of the London District (in which Buckland was situated), refused to give him faculties, till in 1797 he printed a letter explaining his views, which the bishop considered satisfactory. A year or two later, Dr. Douglass again suspended him, until he signed a further declaration in 1801.
Berington passed the remainder of his life at Buckland, where he wrote the most extensive of all his works, The Literary History of the Middle Ages (1811). He published many other books at different times; but some of his writings remained in manuscript, lest their publication should give offence. In private life Joseph Berington was a model priest, exact in the discharge of his duties, and noted for his charity to the poor. He was respected by all who knew him, Catholic and Protestant alike, and after his death a slab was erected in his memory in the Protestant church at Buckland with an inscription written by his friend, Rev. John Bew
John Bew
John Bew was a bookseller and publisher at 28-29 Paternoster Row in London. He was the publisher of The Political Magazine from 1780 to March 1785, when it was taken over by John Murray. The Magazine was a journal written for an audience of informed gentlemen and often included supplementary maps...
, formerly President of Oscott.
Works
The only likeness extant is a silhouetteSilhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
, in the Catholic Directory for 1832. Berington's works (besides those mentioned in the text) are:
- Present State of Caths. (1787);
- Rights of Dissenters (1789);
- Henry II, Richard and John (1790);
- Examination of Events termed Miraculous (1796);
- Gother's Prayers (1800);
- Faith of Catholics (1813);
- Decline and Fall of Catholic Religion in England (1813),
- a reprint of Memoirs of Panzani; numerous letters and pamphlets and many other works in manuscript.
Attribution