Angus MacDonald (archbishop)
Encyclopedia
Angus MacDonald was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the third Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland from 1892 to 1900.
on the Isle of Skye on 18 September 1844, he was the third son of Angus MacDonald and Mary MacDonald (née Watson). His elder brother was Hugh MacDonald, Bishop of Aberdeen. Angus MacDonald was educated at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
. Afterwards, he graduated from the University of London
with a Bachelor of Arts
.
to the priesthood
on 7 July 1872, he was first stationed at St Patrick's Church, Anderston
, Glasgow
, then sent to Arisaig
, Inverness-shire
to help the aged Father William Mackintosh, at whose death he took charge of that parish. There he laboured among the people he had known from childhood, his knowledge of Gaelic enabling him to instruct and help those and there were a great many of them who neither understood nor spoke English
.
on 15 March 1878, he was appointed the first bishop
of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles
by the Holy See
on 22 March 1878 and consecrated
to the episcopate
on 23 May 1878. The principal consecrator
was Archbishop Charles Petre Eyre
. The principal co-consecrators were Bishop James Chadwick
and Bishop John MacDonald
. He took up his residence in Oban
. There he devoted himself to forming his new and scattered diocese, all of which he visited in all seasons and in all kinds of weather. He became a familiar sight on the Highland
steamboat
s, often clad in oilskin
and sou'wester. He built churches and schools, and, with his priests, worked incessantly for the glory of God and the increase of the religion to which he and his ancestor
s had always adhered. After 14 years as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
, he was translated
to the Metropolitan see of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 July 1892. As archbishop, he continued with the same zeal, humility, gentleness, tact, and firm attention to everything in his new duties as he had had under his old charge.
He died in office on 29 April 1900, aged 55.
Early life
Born in BorrodaleBorrodale
Borrodale is small hamlet on the Isle of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.Borrodale is part of Glendale and the Glendale Estate, in the parish of Duirinish...
on the Isle of Skye on 18 September 1844, he was the third son of Angus MacDonald and Mary MacDonald (née Watson). His elder brother was Hugh MacDonald, Bishop of Aberdeen. Angus MacDonald was educated at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
Ushaw College
Ushaw College was a Roman Catholic seminary near Durham, England that closed in 2011. Ushaw was the principal seminary in the north of England for the training of Catholic priests.-History:...
. Afterwards, he graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
.
Priestly career
After his ordinationHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
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....
on 7 July 1872, he was first stationed at St Patrick's Church, Anderston
Anderston
Anderston is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is on the north bank of the River Clyde and extends to the western edge of the city centre...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, then sent to Arisaig
Arisaig
Arisaig is a village in Lochaber, Invernessshire, on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands.-History:On 20 September 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland for France from a place near the village following the failure of the Jacobite Rising. The site of his departure is marked by the Prince's...
, Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
to help the aged Father William Mackintosh, at whose death he took charge of that parish. There he laboured among the people he had known from childhood, his knowledge of Gaelic enabling him to instruct and help those and there were a great many of them who neither understood nor spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Episcopal career
When the Scottish Hierarchy was restoredRestoration of the Scottish hierarchy
The Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy refers to the re-establishment of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland on 15 March 1878...
on 15 March 1878, he was appointed the first bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles
Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh....
by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 22 March 1878 and consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
to the episcopate
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
on 23 May 1878. The principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Archbishop Charles Petre Eyre
Charles Petre Eyre
Charles Petre Eyre was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Glasgow from 1878 to 1902.Born at Askham Bryan Hall, Askham Bryan, near York, England on November 7, 1817, he was the fifth of nine children of John Lewis Eyre and Sara Eyre, née Parker . His father later became a...
. The principal co-consecrators were Bishop James Chadwick
James Chadwick (bishop)
James Chadwick was an Anglo-Irish Roman Catholic priest, and second Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Life:...
and Bishop John MacDonald
John MacDonald (bishop of Aberdeen)
John MacDonald was a Scottish clergyman who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen from 1878 to 1889.-Early life:Born in Strathglass, Inverness on 2 July 1818, he was the son William MacDonald and Harriet MacDonald...
. He took up his residence in Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
. There he devoted himself to forming his new and scattered diocese, all of which he visited in all seasons and in all kinds of weather. He became a familiar sight on the Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s, often clad in oilskin
Oilskin
Oilskin can mean:*A type of fabric: canvas with a skin of oil applied to it as waterproofing, often linseed oil. Old types of oilskin included:-**Heavy cotton cloth waterproofed with linseed oil.**Sailcloth waterproofed with a thin layer of tar....
and sou'wester. He built churches and schools, and, with his priests, worked incessantly for the glory of God and the increase of the religion to which he and his ancestor
Ancestor
An ancestor is a parent or the parent of an ancestor ....
s had always adhered. After 14 years as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles can refer to two overlapping dioceses belonging to different church organizations:*Bishop of Argyll and the Isles *Bishop of Argyll and The Isles -See also:*Bishop of Argyll*Bishop of the Isles...
, he was translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to the Metropolitan see of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 July 1892. As archbishop, he continued with the same zeal, humility, gentleness, tact, and firm attention to everything in his new duties as he had had under his old charge.
He died in office on 29 April 1900, aged 55.