Charles Brodrick
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Charles Brodrick (3 May 1761 – 6 May 1822) was a reforming Irish clergyman and Archbishop of Cashel
in the Church of Ireland
.
and Albinia Townshend, sister of Viscount Sydney
. He was educated, like his maternal uncle, at Clare Hall, Cambridge
.
In 1787 he was ordained in Cloyne
by the Bishop, his father-in-law, Richard Woodward
, first deacon
(24 August) and then priest (9 December). He was appointed Rector of Dingindonovan (or Dangan) and Prebendary
of Killenemer, and established a reputation for himself by choosing to live in his remote parish “at a period when very lax notions prevailed respecting clerical residence”.. For a brief period in 1789 he was Prebendary
of Donoughmore
, before being appointed in June 1789 the Treasurer of Cloyne
, where he served until 1795.
In 1795, Brodrick was consecrated as Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh
, whence he was translated to Kilmore
in 1796. In 1801, following the preferment of Charles Agar
to Dublin
, Brodrick was appointed Archbishop of Cashel and Emly
(and Primate of Munster
) in his place and remained in that post until his death in 1822, when he was succeeded by Richard Laurence
. From 1811 until 1820, he also took on the administration of the diocese and province of Dublin, as a result of the mental incapacity of the Archbishop, Euseby Cleaver
.
described him as “an ornament and blessing to the Church of Ireland.”
, Bishop of Cloyne. Of their children, Charles and William
succeeded eventually as, respectively, the 6th Viscount Midleton and 7th Viscount Midleton (the latter being also Dean of Exeter
), while Mary married the Earl of Bandon
and Albinia married James Ashley Maude.
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
in the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Origins and education
Charles Brodrick was the fourth son of the 3rd Viscount MidletonGeorge Brodrick, 3rd Viscount Midleton
George Brodrick, 3rd Viscount Midleton was a British nobleman.-Origins:Brodrick was the first and only surviving son of Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton and Mary Capell, the second daughter of Algernon Capell, 2nd Earl of Essex. The Brodricks were an English family that had settled in Ireland...
and Albinia Townshend, sister of Viscount Sydney
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney PC , was a British politician who held several important Cabinet posts in the second half of the 18th century...
. He was educated, like his maternal uncle, at Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
.
In 1787 he was ordained in Cloyne
Cloyne
Cloyne is a small town to the south-east of the town of Midleton in eastern County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is also a see city of the Anglican Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to a Roman Catholic diocese...
by the Bishop, his father-in-law, Richard Woodward
Richard Woodward
Richard Woodward was Bishop of Cloyne in the Church of Ireland and the author of a vigorous defence of the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.-Origins and education:...
, first deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
(24 August) and then priest (9 December). He was appointed Rector of Dingindonovan (or Dangan) and Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Killenemer, and established a reputation for himself by choosing to live in his remote parish “at a period when very lax notions prevailed respecting clerical residence”.. For a brief period in 1789 he was Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Donoughmore
Donoughmore
Donoughmore is a parish in County Cork which lies 25 km west north west of Cork city in Ireland.-Amenities:Donoughmore has two primary schools. Scoil Iósaif and St. Lachteen's...
, before being appointed in June 1789 the Treasurer of Cloyne
Cloyne
Cloyne is a small town to the south-east of the town of Midleton in eastern County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is also a see city of the Anglican Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to a Roman Catholic diocese...
, where he served until 1795.
In 1795, Brodrick was consecrated as Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh
Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh
The Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, comprising the southern part of County Galway and a small area of County Roscommon, Ireland.-History:...
, whence he was translated to Kilmore
Bishop of Kilmore
The Bishop of Kilmore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the parish of Kilmore in County Cavan, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:...
in 1796. In 1801, following the preferment of Charles Agar
Charles Agar, 1st Earl of Normanton
Charles Agar, 1st Earl of Normanton , was an Anglo-Irish Protestant clergyman. He served as Archbishop of Dublin from 1801 to 1809....
to Dublin
Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough
The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough is a diocese of the Church of Ireland in the east of Ireland. It is headed by the Archbishop of Dublin who is also styled the Primate of Ireland...
, Brodrick was appointed Archbishop of Cashel and Emly
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
(and Primate of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
) in his place and remained in that post until his death in 1822, when he was succeeded by Richard Laurence
Richard Laurence
Richard Laurence was an English Hebraist and Anglican churchman. He was made Regius Professor of Hebrew and canon of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1814, and Archbishop of Cashel, Ireland, in 1822....
. From 1811 until 1820, he also took on the administration of the diocese and province of Dublin, as a result of the mental incapacity of the Archbishop, Euseby Cleaver
Euseby Cleaver
Euseby Cleaver was the Church of Ireland Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin in Ireland and subsequently Archbishop of Dublin .Of Buckinghamshire origin, he was educated at Christ Church, Oxford....
.
Assessment
Brodrick was a committed ecclesiastical reformer. One obituary following his death described him as “a prelate of distinguished piety, and of the most exemplary attention to the duties of his high station, as evinced by his increasing vigilance in enforcing the residence of the clergy, and by his disinterested appointments to the vacant livings” in his diocese, while Bishop O’Beirne of MeathDiocese of Meath and Kildare
The United Dioceses of Meath and Kildare is a diocese in the Church of Ireland located in Ireland. The diocese is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.-Overview and history:...
described him as “an ornament and blessing to the Church of Ireland.”
Family and descendants
On 8 December 1786, Brodrick married Mary, the daughter of Richard WoodwardRichard Woodward
Richard Woodward was Bishop of Cloyne in the Church of Ireland and the author of a vigorous defence of the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.-Origins and education:...
, Bishop of Cloyne. Of their children, Charles and William
William Brodrick, 7th Viscount Midleton
William John Brodrick, 7th Viscount Midleton was an Irish peer and Anglican clergyman, styled Hon. William John Brodrick from 1849 to 1863. Brodrick was the second son of Charles Brodrick, Archbishop of Cashel. He was the Dean of Exeter in the Church of England from 1863 to 1867 and an Honorary...
succeeded eventually as, respectively, the 6th Viscount Midleton and 7th Viscount Midleton (the latter being also Dean of Exeter
Dean of Exeter
The Dean of Exeter is the head of the Chapter of Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, England. The chapter was established by Bishop William Briwere who set up the offices of Dean and chancellor of Exeter Cathedral, allowing the chapter to elect those officers.The current Dean lives at the...
), while Mary married the Earl of Bandon
James Bernard, 2nd Earl of Bandon
James Bernard, 2nd Earl of Bandon was an Irish Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1820 and 1831 when he inherted the peerage and sat in the House of Lords....
and Albinia married James Ashley Maude.