Bishop of Down and Connor

The Bishop of Down and Connor is an episcopal title which takes its name from the town of Downpatrick (located in County Down) and the village of Connor (located in County Antrim) in Northern Ireland. The title is still used by the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.

Contents

History

The sees of Down and Connor were established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111. For a brief period in the early 12th-century, they were united under Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair (Saint Malachy), who also became Archbishop of Armagh.[1]

On 29 July 1438, plans for a permanent union of the sees of Down and Connor were submitted to King Henry VI of England for his sanction.[2] Exactly twelve months later, 29 July 1439, Pope Eugene IV issued a papal bull stating that Down and Connor were to be united on the death or resignation of either bishop. In 1442, Bishop John Sely of Down was deprived of his see by Pope Eugene IV,[3][4] thereby effecting the union of the two dioceses. John Fossade, who had been bishop of Connor since 1431, became the bishop of the united see of Down and Connor in late 1442. However, due to strong opposition to the union in the diocese of Down, three more bishops of Down were appointed, two whilst Fossade was alive and one after his death. It was not until the appointment of Thomas Knight that the two sees were finally united under one bishop.

Following the upheaval of the 16th century Reformation in Ireland, there were parallel apostolic successions. In the Church of Ireland, Down and Connor merged with Dromore in 1842 to form the bishopric of Down, Connor and Dromore. They continued until 1945 when they were separated into the bishoprics of Down & Dromore and Connor.[5][6]

In the Roman Catholic Church, the see of Down and Connor continues to the present day. The incumbent is the Most Reverend Noel Treanor, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor, who was appointed by the Holy See on 22 February 2008 and ordained bishop on 29 June 2008.[7]

Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Down and Connor [8][9]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1442 1450 John Fossade Appointed Bishop of Connor in 1431; became Bishop of Down and Connor in 1442, however, due local opposition, he did not get full control; died in the spring of 1450; also known as John Festade
1453 1469 Thomas Knight. O.S.B. Appointed 24 August 1453 and consecrated 31 May 1456; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of London 1459-63; died before July 1469
1469 1480 Tadhg Ó Muirgheasa Appointed 10 July and consecrated 10 September 1469; died after July 1480; also known as Thaddaeus
1483 1519 Tiberio Ugolino Appointed times, 14 February 1483, 12 September 1484 and 1 September 1485; consecrated 12 March 1489; died before April 1519

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Down and Connor [5][6]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1520 c.1541 Robert Blyth. O.S.B. [A] Appointed 16 April 1520; accepted royal supremacy in 1539; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of Ely 1539-1541; resigned circa 1541; died after 19 October 1547
1542 1559/63 Eugene Magennis [C] Papal appointee from 1539, he accepted royal supremacy and was confirmed by letters patent 8 May 1542; remained possession during the reign of Queen Mary I; died sometime around 1559 and 1563
1565 1567 James MacCawell Nominated 6 June 1565, but is not known for certain if he was consecrated or obtained possession; promoted to the archbishopric of Cashel in 1567
1569 1571 John Merriman Received possession of the temporalities 20 December 1568 and consecrated 19 January 1569; died before 6 July 1571
1572 1582 Hugh Allen Appointed by letters patent 21 November 1572; translated to Ferns and Leighlin 24 May 1582
1582 1593 See vacant
1593 1595 Edward Edgeworth Nominated 31 July 1593; consecrated 1593; died 1595
1596 1601 John Charden Appointed by letters patent and consecrated 4 May 1596; died 1601
1602 1607 Roben Humpston Nominated 17 July 1601 and consecrated 5 April 1602; died before 14 January 1607
1607 1612 John Todd Formerly Dean of Cashel; nominated to Down and Connor and to Dromore 24 January and appointed to all by letters patent 16 May 1607; resigned 20 January 1612
1612 James Dundas Nominated 23 February and consecrated July 1612; died before 29 November 1612
1613 1635 Robert Echlin Nominated 29 November 1612 and appointed by letters patent 4 March 1613; died 17 July 1635
1635 1661 Henry Leslie Nominated 8 August and consecrated 4 October 1635; translated to Meath 19 January 1661
1661 1667 Jeremy Taylor Nominated 6 August 1660 and consecrated 27 January 1661; also appointed administrator of the see of Dromore 23 June 1661; died 13 August 1667
1667 1672 Roger Boyle Nominated 26 August and consecrated 18 October 1667; translated to Clogher 19 September 1672; he was the younger brother of Richard Boyle, Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin
1672 1694 Thomas Hacket Nominated 29 August and consecrated 28 September 1672; deprived on 21 March 1694 for continued non-residence, neglect and other offences again ecclesiastical law; died in August 1697
1694 1695 Samuel Foley Nominated 17 August and consecrated 2 September 1694; died 22 May 1695
1695 1699 Edward Walkington Nominated 10 July and consecrated 4 August 1695; died in January 1699
1699 1720 Edward Smyth Nominated 21 January and consecrated 2 April 1699; died 16 October 1720
1721 1739 Francis Hutchinson Nominated 30 November 1720 and consecrated 22 January 1721; died 23 June 1739
1739 1743 Carew Reynell Nominated 4 September and consecrated 18 November 1739; translated to Derry 6 May 1743
1743 1752 John Ryder Translated from Killaloe; nominated 25 April 1743 and appointed by letters patent 1 August 1743; translated to Tuam 19 March 1752
1752 John Whitcombe Translated from Clonfert and Kilmacduagh; nominated 24 February 1752 and appointed by letters patent 21 March 1752; translated to Cashel 1 September 1752
1752 1753 Robert Downes Translated from Ferns and Leighlin; nominated 12 August 1752 and appointed by letters patent 13 October 1752; translated to Raphoe 16 January 1753
1753 1765 Arthur Smyth Translated from Clonfert; nominated 28 December 1752 and appointed by letters patent 24 January 1753; translated to Meath 28 October 1765
1765 1783 James Traill Nominated 27 September and consecrated 3 November 1765; died 12 November 1783
1784 1804 William Dickson Nominated 19 November 1783 and consecrated 1 February 1784; died 19 September 1804
1804 1823 Nathaniel Alexander Translated from Killaloe and Kilfenora; nominated 2 November 1804 and appointed by letters patent 21 November 1804; translated to Meath 21 March 1823
1823 1848 Richard Mant Translated from Killaloe and Kilfenora; nominated 13 March 1823 and appointed by letters patent 23 March 1823; became Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore from 9 April 1842; died 2 November 1848
In 1842, Down and Connor united with Dromore to form the united bishopric of Down, Connor and Dromore

Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Down and Connor [10][11]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1520 1539 Robert Blyth, O.S.B. [B] Appointed 16 April 1520; deprived by Pope Paul III in 1539 when he accepted royal supremacy; died 1547
1539 1559 Eugene Magennis [D] Appointed 16 June 1539; accepted royal supremacy in 1541, but remained possession during the reign of Queen Mary I; died sometime around 1559 and 1563
1565 1580 Miler Magrath, O.F.M. Appointed 12 October 1565; accepted royal supremacy in 1567 and became the Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher in 1570 and Archbishop of Cashel in 1571; it was not until 14 March 1580 that he was finally deprived of the Roman Catholic see of Down and Connor by Pope Gregory XIII
1580 1581 Donat O'Gallagher, O.F.M. Translated from Killala; appointed 23 March 1580; died circa 1581
1582 1612 Bl. Conor O'Devany, O.F.M. Appointed 27 April 1582 and consecrated 2 February 1583; executed 1 February 1612; beatified by Pope John Paul II on 27 September 1992
1614 1625 Patrick Hanratty Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 7 March 1614; translated to Dromore in 1625
1625 1629 Edmund Dungan Appointed 9 June 1625 and consecrated in July 1626; died 1629
1630 1640 Hugh Magennis, O.F.M. Appointed 22 April and again 28 June 1630; died 24 April 1640; also known as Bonaventura
1640 1642 See vacant
1642 1643 Heber MacMahon Appointed 10 March 1642; translated to Clogher 27 June 1643
1647 1653 Arthur Magennis, O.Cist. Appointed 11 March 1647 and consecrated 1 May 1648; died 24 March 1653
1657 1670 Michael O'Beirn Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 17 April 1657; died circa 1670
1671 1673 Daniel Mackey Appointed 4 May 1671; died 24 December 1673
1673 1711 See vacant During this period, the two dioceses of Down and Connor seem to have been governed by separate vicars general
1711 unknown Terence O'Donnelly Appointed vicar apostolic of Down by papal brief 22 August 1711, and vicar apostolic of both from February 1714
1717 1724 James O'Shiel, O.F.M. Appointed 2 October and consecrated in November 1717; died 13 August 1724
1727 1739 John Armstrong Appointed 7 April 1727; died in December 1739
1740 1749 Francis Stuart, O.F.M. Appointed 19 September and consecrated 24 November 1740; died in May 1749
1751 1760 Edmund O'Doran Appointed 30 January 1751; died 18 June 1760
1760 1778 Theophilus MacCartan Appointed 10 September 1760; died 16 December 1778
1779 1794 Hugh MacMullan Appointed 11 August 1779; died 8 October 1794
1794 1824 Patrick MacMullan Appointed coadjutor bishop 29 July and consecrated 21 September 1793; succeeded 8 October 1794; died 25 October 1824
1825 1835 William Crolly Appointed 6 February and consecrated 1 May 1825; translated to Armagh in April or May 1835
1835 1865 Cornelius Denvir Appointed 6 September 1835; resigned May 1865; died 10 July 1866
1865 1885 Patrick Dorrian Appointed coadjutor bishop 13 June and consecrated 19 August 1860; succeeded in May 1865; died 3 November 1885
1886 1895 Patrick MacAlister Appointed in 1886 and consecrated 28 March 1886; died 26 March 1895
1895 1908 Henry Henry Appointed 16 August and consecrated 22 September 1895; died 8 March 1908
1908 1914 John Tohill Appointed 5 August and consecrated 20 September 1908; died 4 July 1914
1915 1928 Joseph MacRory Appointed 18 August and consecrated 14 November 1915; translated to Armagh 22 June 1928
1929 1962 Daniel Mageean Appointed 31 May and consecrated 25 August 1929; died 18 January 1962
1962 1982 William Philbin Translated from Clonfert; appointed 5 June 1962; retired 24 August 1982; died 23 August 1991
1982 1990 Cahal Brendan Daly Translated from Ardagh and Clonmacnoise; appointed 24 August 1982; translated to Armagh 6 November 1990
1991 2008 Patrick Joseph Walsh Appointed titular bishop of Ros Cré and auxiliary bishop of Down and Connor on 6 April 1983; ordained bishop 15 May 1983; appointed diocesan bishop of Down and Connor on 18 March 1991; retired 22 February 2008
2008 present Noel Treanor Appointed 22 February and ordained bishop 29 June 2008

Notes

  • Robert BlythA B and Eugene MagennisC D were bishops of both successions.

References

  1. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 334, 343 and 347.
  2. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 344 and 348.
  3. ^ Kilclief Castle. Irish Antiquities. Retrieved on 25 August 2009.
  4. ^ Kilclief Castle, County of Down. Library Ireland. Retrieved on 25 August 2009.
  5. ^ a b Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 388–389.
  6. ^ a b Cotton 1850, The Province of Connaught, pp. 202–218.
  7. ^ Bishops of Down and Connor. Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor. Retrieved on 26 August 2009.
  8. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 343–344 and 347–348.
  9. ^ Cotton 1850, The Province of Connaught, pp. 201–202.
  10. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 423-424.
  11. ^ Diocese of Down and Connor at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on 26 August 2009.

Bibliography

  • Cotton, Henry (1850). The Province of Connaught. Fasti Ecclesiae Hiberniae: The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Volume 4. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. http://www.archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaehi04cottuoft. 
  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S. et al., eds (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, Reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.