Charles Henderson (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Charles Joseph Henderson, KC*HS was born in County Waterford, Ireland on 14 April 1924, where he was ordained as a priest on 6 June 1948.
Based in England
, Henderson was appointed vicar general of the new diocese Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
, which was created out of Southwark in 1965. He was made a papal chamberlain
in 1960 and a prelate to the papal household in 1965. In 1969 he was appointed as the parish priest for Our Lady Help of Christians, Blackheath
.
On 8 December 1972 at St George’s Cathedral (Southwark), Archbishop Cyril Cowderoy ordained him as an auxiliary bishop in Southwark
and titular Bishop of Tricala. After the death of Archbishop Cowderoy in October 1976, he was put in charge of the diocese until the installation of Archbishop Michael Bowen
in April 1977. In 1980 he was given responsibility for south-east London.
Pope John Paul II
recognised his expertise and knowledge in inter-faith dialogue by appointing him to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1990. He was also chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Catholic to Jewish Relations from 1992 to 2001, vice-chairman of the Council for Christians and Jews for many years, and a member of the Churches' Commission for Interfaith Relations (1994–2002). In 2001 he was awarded the Interfaith Gold Medallion from the Sternberg Charitable Foundation. He was also chairman of the finance advisory committee of the UK's National Catholic Fund (1988–2000).
accepted his official resignation.
In 1973 he was given the Freedom of the City of Waterford
(an honour also shared by Isaac Butt
and Anna Manahan
). The same year, he was also made a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
He continued to travel for many years to Thailand
several times to visit the Pattaya Orphanage Trust (of which he was a patron
). He also frequently visited his native Waterford, Ireland, at least twice a year.
, he died on 10 April 2006, aged 81, at Park House, Blackheath.
Based in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Henderson was appointed vicar general of the new diocese Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese in southern England covering the counties of Sussex and Surrey. The diocese was established on 28 May 1965, having previously been a part of the larger Archdiocese of Southwark.-Bishops:There have been four...
, which was created out of Southwark in 1965. He was made a papal chamberlain
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1960 and a prelate to the papal household in 1965. In 1969 he was appointed as the parish priest for Our Lady Help of Christians, Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
.
On 8 December 1972 at St George’s Cathedral (Southwark), Archbishop Cyril Cowderoy ordained him as an auxiliary bishop in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
and titular Bishop of Tricala. After the death of Archbishop Cowderoy in October 1976, he was put in charge of the diocese until the installation of Archbishop Michael Bowen
Michael George Bowen
Michael George Bowen is a British prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Southwark from 1977 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.-Biography:...
in April 1977. In 1980 he was given responsibility for south-east London.
Ecumenism
In 1976, he was appointed to the Ecumenical Commission for England and Wales. He was a member of the English Anglican/RC Committee (ARCIC) from 1982 to 1992, and a member of the Methodist/RC Committee from 1983 to 1992. Between 1982 and 1986 he served as a Catholic consultor and observer at the British Council of Churches.Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
recognised his expertise and knowledge in inter-faith dialogue by appointing him to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1990. He was also chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Catholic to Jewish Relations from 1992 to 2001, vice-chairman of the Council for Christians and Jews for many years, and a member of the Churches' Commission for Interfaith Relations (1994–2002). In 2001 he was awarded the Interfaith Gold Medallion from the Sternberg Charitable Foundation. He was also chairman of the finance advisory committee of the UK's National Catholic Fund (1988–2000).
Resignation/Honours
On 26 January 2001, Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
accepted his official resignation.
In 1973 he was given the Freedom of the City of Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
(an honour also shared by Isaac Butt
Isaac Butt
Isaac Butt Q.C. M.P. was an Irish barrister, politician, Member of Parliament , and the founder and first leader of a number of Irish nationalist parties and organisations, including the Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society in 1836, the Home Government Association in 1870 and in 1873 the Home...
and Anna Manahan
Anna Manahan
Anna Maria Manahan was an Irish stage, film and television actress. She interpreted the works of, among others, Sean O'Casey, John B Keane, J. M. Synge, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Martin McDonagh, Christy Brown, and Brian Friel....
). The same year, he was also made a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
He continued to travel for many years to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
several times to visit the Pattaya Orphanage Trust (of which he was a patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
). He also frequently visited his native Waterford, Ireland, at least twice a year.
Quote
In 1998, he remarked: "We have achieved in my lifetime as a bishop the undoing of the damage of the Reformation."Death
Diagnosed with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, he died on 10 April 2006, aged 81, at Park House, Blackheath.