Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District
Encyclopedia
The Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District was the title given to the Bishop
who, between 1688 and 1850, headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church
in England known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District.
, the bishops of England were forced to choose between taking the Oath of Supremacy
, thus denying the authority of the Pope
, and losing their episcopal see
s. Those who chose to continue their allegiance to Rome were subsequently deposed and replaced in their sees by priests of the Church of England
. Most of the deposed Bishops were imprisoned in various locations and died in captivity over a period of years, though some left the country and continued their work overseas. The last of the deposed bishops was Thomas Goldwell
, Bishop of St Asaph
, who died in Rome
on April 3, 1585.
decided once again to provide a Roman Catholic Bishop with jurisdiction in England. So it was that Dr William Bishop was appointed, with the title of Vicar Apostolic of England. He died shortly afterwards and was succeeded by Dr Richard Smith, who in August 1631 was forced to resign and fled to France. The office then remained vacant until its revival in 1685 with the appointment of Dr John Leyburn
as Vicar Apostolic and bishop.
at the head of each with the title of vicar general
. This structure remained in place until Dr Leyburn reduced the number from six to four. It was on the basis of these four areas that on 20 January 1688 Pope Innocent XI
increased the number of bishops in England to a total of four. The territory of the former single Vicariate Apostolic was then reduced, becoming the Vicariate Apostolic of the London District. So it was that the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District was created, along with the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District and the Vicariate Apostolic of the Western District.
.
Despite intermittent persecution, a Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District continued in existence until 1850.
. On the previous day, 29 September, Pope Pius IX
had issued the Bull
Universalis Ecclesiae
, by which thirteen new dioceses were created, commonly known as the restoration of the English hierarchy, among them the diocese of Hexham, a new jurisdiction to replace formally the old Vicariate. In 1861 the diocese of Hexham was renamed the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and its head took the title Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
, which has remained until the present day.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
who, between 1688 and 1850, headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in England known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District.
Background
Soon after the accession of Queen Elizabeth IElizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, the bishops of England were forced to choose between taking the Oath of Supremacy
Oath of Supremacy
The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...
, thus denying the authority of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, and losing their episcopal see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
s. Those who chose to continue their allegiance to Rome were subsequently deposed and replaced in their sees by priests of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Most of the deposed Bishops were imprisoned in various locations and died in captivity over a period of years, though some left the country and continued their work overseas. The last of the deposed bishops was Thomas Goldwell
Thomas Goldwell
Thomas Goldwell was an English bishop, the last of those who had refused to accept the English Reformation.-Life:He began his career as rector of Cheriton in 1532, after graduating BA and then MA at All Souls College, Oxford.He became chaplain to Cardinal Pole and lived with him at Rome, was...
, Bishop of St Asaph
Bishop of St Asaph
The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph.The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St Asaph in the town of...
, who died in 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...
on April 3, 1585.
Restoration: The Vicar Apostolic of England
In 1623 Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
decided once again to provide a Roman Catholic Bishop with jurisdiction in England. So it was that Dr William Bishop was appointed, with the title of Vicar Apostolic of England. He died shortly afterwards and was succeeded by Dr Richard Smith, who in August 1631 was forced to resign and fled to France. The office then remained vacant until its revival in 1685 with the appointment of Dr John Leyburn
John Leyburn
John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...
as Vicar Apostolic and bishop.
Geographical Organisation
In 1623 the first Vicar Apostolic, Dr Bishop, divided England into six areas and placed a superiorSuperior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
at the head of each with the title of vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
. This structure remained in place until Dr Leyburn reduced the number from six to four. It was on the basis of these four areas that on 20 January 1688 Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI
Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...
increased the number of bishops in England to a total of four. The territory of the former single Vicariate Apostolic was then reduced, becoming the Vicariate Apostolic of the London District. So it was that the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District was created, along with the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District and the Vicariate Apostolic of the Western District.
Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District
The first Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from January 30, 1688 was Bishop James Smith, who died in 1711. He was succeeded in 1716, after an interregnum, by Bishop George Witham, hitherto Vicar Apostolic of the Midland DistrictVicar 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...
.
Despite intermittent persecution, a Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District continued in existence until 1850.
| Vicars Apostolic of the Northern District | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1688 | 1711 | James Smith James Smith (vicar apostolic) James Smith was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar-Apostolic of the Northern District under James II of England.-Life:Born at Winchester in 1645, he was educated at the English College, Douai, and was created D.D. on 5 February 1680... , Titular Bishop of Callipolis |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 28 January 1688. Consecrated on 13 May 1688. Died in office on 13 May 1711. |
| 1711 | 1716 | Vacant | |
| 1716 | 1725 | George Witham George Witham George Witham was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served firstly as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District.-Early life:... , Titular Bishop of Marcopolis |
Translated from the Midland District 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... . Appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District on 6 April 1716. Died in office on 16 April 1725. |
| 1725 | 1740 | Thomas Dominic Williams Thomas Dominic Williams Thomas Dominic Williams, O.P. was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1725 to 1740.... , O.P. 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... , Titular Bishop of Tiberiopolis |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 11 December 1725. Consecrated on 30 December 1725. Died in office on 3 April 1740. |
| 1740 | 1752 | Edward Dicconson Edward Dicconson Edward Dicconson was an English Catholic bishop, Titular Bishop of Malla and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England.-Life:... , Titular Bishop of Mallus |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 6 October 1740. Consecrated on 19 March 1741. Died in office on 24 April 1752. |
| 1752 | 1775 | Francis Petre Francis Petre (bishop) Francis Petre was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1752 to 1775.Born in Fidlers, Essex on 2 October 1692, he was ordained to the priesthood on 31 March 1720. He was appointed coadjutor to Edward Dicconson, Vicar Apostolic of the... , Titular Bishop of Amorium |
Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 27 July 1750. Consecrated on 27 July 1751. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 5 May 1752. Died in office on 24 December 1775. |
| 1768 | 1769 | (William Maire William Maire William Maire was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as coadjutor to the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1768 to 1769.... , Titular Bishop of Cinna) |
Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 1 October 1768. Consecrated on 29 May 1768. Died without succeeding on 25 July 1769. |
| 1775 | 1780 | William Walton William Walton (bishop) William Walton was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England from 1775 to 1780.... , Titular Bishop of Dragobitia (Drago) |
Formerly a priest Priesthood (Catholic Church) The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence.... (1741–1770). Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 18 July 1770. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 24 December 1775. Died in office on 26 February 1780. |
| 1780 | 1790 | Matthew Gibson Matthew Gibson Matthew Gibson was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1780 to 1790.Born in Stonecroft, near Hexham, Northumberland on 23 March 1734, the son of Jasper Gibson and Margaret Gibson . He was ordained to the priesthood in 1758... , Titular Bishop of Comana Armeniae |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 17 June 1780. Consecrated on 3 September 1780. Died in office on 17 May 1790. |
| 1790 | 1821 | 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 of Achantus |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 10 September 1790. Consecrated on 5 December 1790. Died in office on 2 June 1821. |
| 1821 | 1831 | Thomas Smith Thomas Smith (vicar apostolic) Thomas Smith was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1821 to 1831.He was born on 21 March 1763, the son of James Smith of the Brooms, near Lanchester, County Durham. Thomas was ordained to the priesthood in 1788 by Louis-François-Marc... , Titular Bishop of Bolina |
Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 15 May 1807. Consecrated on 10 March 1810. Succeeded vicar apostolic on on 2 June 1821. Died in office on 30 July 1831. |
| 1831 | 1836 | Thomas Penswick Thomas Penswick Thomas Penswick was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1831 to 1836.... , Titular Bishop of Europus |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 13 January 1824. Consecrated on 29 June 1824. Died in office on 28 January 1836. |
| 1836 | 1840 | John Briggs, Titular Bishop of Trachis |
Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 22 January 1833. Consecrated on 29 June 1833. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 28 January 1836. Translated to the Yorkshire District on 3 July 1840. |
| 1840 | 1847 | Francis George Mostyn Francis George Mostyn Francis George Mostyn was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England from 1840 to 1847.... , Titular Bishop of Abydus |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 22 September 1840. Consecrated on 21 December 1840. Died in office on 11 August 1847. |
| Aug 1847 | Nov 1847 | William Riddell William Riddell William Riddell was a Roman Catholic bishop who briefly served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England in 1847.-Early life and ministry:... , Titular Bishop of Lagania |
Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 22 December 1843. Consecrated on 17 March 1844. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 11 August 1847. Died in office on 2 November 1847. |
| 1848 | 1850 | William Hogarth William Hogarth (bishop) William Hogarth was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Early life and ministry:... , Titular Bishop of Samosata |
Appointed vicar apostolic and titular bishop on 28 July 1848. Consecrated on 24 August 1848. Appointed Bishop of Hexham Bishop of Hexham The Bishop of Hexham was an episcopal title which took its name after the market town of Hexham in Northumberland, England. The title was first used by the Anglo-Saxons in the 7th and 9th centuries, and then by the Roman Catholic Church in the 19th century.... on 29 September 1850 when the district elevated to a diocese. The episcopal title changed to Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:... on 23 May 1861. |
Bishop of Hexham
The last Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District was Bishop William Hogarth, who on 30 September 1850 was assigned the title of bishop of HexhamBishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
. On the previous day, 29 September, Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
had issued the Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae is the incipit of the papal bull of 29 September 1850 by which Pope Pius IX recreated the Roman Catholic diocesan hierarchy in England, which had been extinguished with the death of the last Marian bishop in the reign of Elizabeth I. New names were given to the dioceses, as...
, by which thirteen new dioceses were created, commonly known as the restoration of the English hierarchy, among them the diocese of Hexham, a new jurisdiction to replace formally the old Vicariate. In 1861 the diocese of Hexham was renamed the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and its head took the title Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
, which has remained until the present day.