Benjamin Petre
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Petre was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar Apostolic of the London District
from 1734.
(who was a younger brother of William Petre
the translator), by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Pincheon of Writtle
. He was educated at the English College, Douai
, and, after being admitted to the priesthood, became tutor to Lord Derwentwater, who was subsequently beheaded for treason.
He was consecrated titular bishop
of Prusa
on 11 November 1721, and appointed coadjutor bishop with right of succession Bonaventure Giffard
, at that time vicar-apostolic of the London district. On Gifford's death on 12 March 1734, he succeeded to the vicariate. He resided chiefly at Fidlers, died on 22 December 1758, and was buried in St. Edmund's College, Ware. He was succeeded by Richard Challoner
.
Vicar Apostolic of the London District
The Vicar Apostolic of the London District was the title given to the bishop who headed an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England, the Vicariate Apostolic of the London District, from 1688 to 1850.-Background:...
from 1734.
Life
He was born 10 August 1672, the son of John Petre (1617–1690) of Fidlers or Fithlers, EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
(who was a younger brother of William Petre
William Petre
Sir William Petre was a secretary of state to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.Educated as a lawyer at Oxford, he became a public servant, probably through the influence of the Boleyns, one of whom, George, he had tutored at Oxford and another of whom, Anne, was married to the king...
the translator), by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Pincheon of Writtle
Writtle
The village of Writtle lies a mile west of Chelmsford, Essex, England, it has a traditional village green, complete with duck pond and a Norman church; and was once described as: 'one of the loveliest villages in England, with a ravishing variety of ancient cottages'...
. He was educated at the English College, Douai
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
, and, after being admitted to the priesthood, became tutor to Lord Derwentwater, who was subsequently beheaded for treason.
He was consecrated titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Prusa
Prusa
Prusa may indicate a number of things:*Prusa Mendel, *Spelled Prūsa, the name for Prussia in indigenous Prussian language*An alternative rendering of the town of Bursa, Turkey*An alternative name for the ancient city of Cius, Turkey...
on 11 November 1721, and appointed coadjutor bishop with right of succession Bonaventure Giffard
Bonaventure Giffard
Bonaventure Giffard was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District of England from 1687 to 1703 and Vicar Apostolic of the London District of England from 1703 to 1734.-Life:...
, at that time vicar-apostolic of the London district. On Gifford's death on 12 March 1734, he succeeded to the vicariate. He resided chiefly at Fidlers, died on 22 December 1758, and was buried in St. Edmund's College, Ware. He was succeeded by Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. He is perhaps most famous for his revision of the Douay Rheims translation of the Bible.-Early life:Challoner was born in the Protestant town of Lewes,...
.