Robert Spence (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert William Spence was an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, and the third Archbishop
of Adelaide
. Born in Ireland, Spence became a Dominican
priest
, and after serving as a prior
in Kilkenny
, moved to Adelaide, Australia in 1898. In 1915, he became Archbishop of Adelaide, a position he held until his death in 1934.
. The son of Robert Spence and his wife Ellen, née Sullivan, he received his education from the Christian Brothers
and Vincentian Fathers before entering the Dominican
novitiate
in Tallaght
, outside Dublin. Having professed
in 1878, Spence moved to Lisbon
, where he studied for the priesthood at Corpo Santo College. He was ordained a priest on 23 December 1882, and two days later, at Bom Sucesso convent he celebrated the first Dominican high mass
in Portugal since religious orders were suppressed there in 1833. Returning to Ireland in 1885, he served in Cork and Newry
, and ran retreats throughout Ireland, earning a reputation as a zealous and forceful preacher. In 1892, he became prior
of the Black Abbey
priory in Kilkenny
, a position he held for six years.
In 1898, Spence travelled to Adelaide, Australia as prior of the first Dominican house of friars in Australia until 1901. Spence constructed a priory at St Laurence's Church in North Adelaide
, and ran retreats ministering to religious
. In 1899, he founded the Adelaide Catholic Club (intended as a Catholic version of the Adelaide Club
), and throughout his time in Adelaide he continued to participate in Catholic associations, serving as president of the state branch of the Australian Catholic Federation and reviving the North Adelaide branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. While serving as a prior in North Adelaide from 1908, Spence became more involved in the administration of the Archdiocese, advising then Archbishop John O'Reily
, and often accompanying him when the Archbishop travelled.
, indicating his preference for Spence to be appointed. Despite some Australian bishops raising objections to a religious
becoming a bishop, Spence was appointed coadjutor archbishop on 13 July 1914. He was consecrated on 16 August of the same year, and when O'Reily died on 6 July 1915, Spence became Archbishop.
While Archbishop, Spence continued to wear the plain clothes of his Dominican order rather than the purple soutane of an archbishop. He carried on O'Reily's efforts to restructure the diocesan finances, removing much of the diocese debt. After returning from an ad limina visit to Rome
in 1921, he travelled through the archdiocese to raise funds for the completion and transformation of St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, with the new building opened in 1926.
While in Ireland in 1920, Spence gave a controversial speech in Newry
where he saluted the Irish flag
and alleged that "soldiers of the British Government were committing atrocities in Ireland." The incident was controversial in Australia, with Adelaide newspapers accusing him of disloyalty. In July 1933, in the same month as he was made a count of the Holy Roman Empire, an assistant at the pontifical throne
and a companion to Pius XI, Andrew Killian
was appointed to serve as Spence's coadjutor. Spence died in Adelaide on 5 November 1934, with the Adelaide City Council adjourning as a sign of respect for the late Archbishop.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
. Born in Ireland, Spence became a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, and after serving as a prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, moved to Adelaide, Australia in 1898. In 1915, he became Archbishop of Adelaide, a position he held until his death in 1934.
Early life
Robert Spence was born on 13 January 1860 in Cork, IrelandCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. The son of Robert Spence and his wife Ellen, née Sullivan, he received his education from the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
and Vincentian Fathers before entering the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
, outside Dublin. Having professed
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
in 1878, Spence moved to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, where he studied for the priesthood at Corpo Santo College. He was ordained a priest on 23 December 1882, and two days later, at Bom Sucesso convent he celebrated the first Dominican high mass
Solemn Mass
Solemn Mass , sometimes also referred to as Solemn High Mass or simply High Mass, is, when used not merely as a description, the full ceremonial form of the Tridentine Mass, celebrated by a priest with a deacon and a subdeacon, requiring most of the parts of the Mass to be sung, and the use of...
in Portugal since religious orders were suppressed there in 1833. Returning to Ireland in 1885, he served in Cork and Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, and ran retreats throughout Ireland, earning a reputation as a zealous and forceful preacher. In 1892, he became prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the Black Abbey
Black Abbey
The Black Abbey of Kilkenny, Ireland, is a Catholic priory of the Dominican Order, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Black Abbey was established in 1225 as one of the first houses of the Dominican Order in Ireland....
priory in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, a position he held for six years.
In 1898, Spence travelled to Adelaide, Australia as prior of the first Dominican house of friars in Australia until 1901. Spence constructed a priory at St Laurence's Church in North Adelaide
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.-History:...
, and ran retreats ministering to religious
Religious (Catholicism)
In the lexicon of certain branches of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches, religious as a noun usually refers to a member of a religious order of monks, nuns, friars, clerics regular, or other individuals who take the three vows of poverty, chastity, and...
. In 1899, he founded the Adelaide Catholic Club (intended as a Catholic version of the Adelaide Club
Adelaide Club
The Adelaide Club is an exclusive gentlemen's club in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Founded in 1863, the club comprises members of the Adelaide establishment....
), and throughout his time in Adelaide he continued to participate in Catholic associations, serving as president of the state branch of the Australian Catholic Federation and reviving the North Adelaide branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. While serving as a prior in North Adelaide from 1908, Spence became more involved in the administration of the Archdiocese, advising then Archbishop John O'Reily
John O'Reily (bishop)
John O'Reily was an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, the first Bishop of Port Augusta, and the second Archbishop of Adelaide. Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, O'Reily studied for the priesthood in Dublin...
, and often accompanying him when the Archbishop travelled.
Episcopacy
By the 1910s, Archbishop O'Reily was growing frail, with many of his pastoral duties having to be filled by Bishop of Port Augusta John Norton,. In 1913, O'Reily requested a coadjutorCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
, indicating his preference for Spence to be appointed. Despite some Australian bishops raising objections to a religious
Religious (Catholicism)
In the lexicon of certain branches of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches, religious as a noun usually refers to a member of a religious order of monks, nuns, friars, clerics regular, or other individuals who take the three vows of poverty, chastity, and...
becoming a bishop, Spence was appointed coadjutor archbishop on 13 July 1914. He was consecrated on 16 August of the same year, and when O'Reily died on 6 July 1915, Spence became Archbishop.
While Archbishop, Spence continued to wear the plain clothes of his Dominican order rather than the purple soutane of an archbishop. He carried on O'Reily's efforts to restructure the diocesan finances, removing much of the diocese debt. After returning from an ad limina visit to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1921, he travelled through the archdiocese to raise funds for the completion and transformation of St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, with the new building opened in 1926.
While in Ireland in 1920, Spence gave a controversial speech in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
where he saluted the Irish flag
Flag of Ireland
The national flag of Ireland is a vertical tricolour of green , white, and orange. It is also known as the Irish tricolour. The flag proportion is 1:2...
and alleged that "soldiers of the British Government were committing atrocities in Ireland." The incident was controversial in Australia, with Adelaide newspapers accusing him of disloyalty. In July 1933, in the same month as he was made a count of the Holy Roman Empire, an assistant at the pontifical throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne is an ecclesiastical title in the Roman Catholic Church. It signifies a prelate belonging to the papal chapel, who stands near the throne of the Pope at solemn functions....
and a companion to Pius XI, Andrew Killian
Andrew Killian
Andrew Killian was an Australian clergyman and the fourth Archbishop of Adelaide. Born and ordained in Ireland, Killian moved to Australia where he became Bishop of Port Augusta before succeeding Robert Spence as Archbishop of Adelaide.- Early life :Andrew Killian was born on 26 October 1872 in...
was appointed to serve as Spence's coadjutor. Spence died in Adelaide on 5 November 1934, with the Adelaide City Council adjourning as a sign of respect for the late Archbishop.
External links
- Spence, Robert William at the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition.