Francis Thomson (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Francis Alexander Spalding Warden Thomson (1917–1987) was a Scottish
Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Motherwell
from 1964 to 1982.
Born in Edinburgh
, Scotland on 15 May 1917, he was ordained
to the priesthood
on 15 June 1946. He was appointed the Bishop
of the Diocese of Motherwell by the Holy See
on 8 December 1964, and consecrated
to the Episcopate
on 24 February 1965. The principal consecrator
was Archbishop James Donald Scanlan
of Glasgow, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop James Black
of Paisley and Bishop Stephen McGill
of Argyll and the Isles (later Bishop of Paisley).
He resigned on 14 December 1982 and assumed the title Bishop Emeritus
of Motherwell. He died on 6 December 1987, aged 70.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Motherwell
Bishop of Motherwell
The Bishop of Motherwell is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell in the Province of Glasgow.The diocese covers an area of 1,178 km². The see is in the town of Motherwell where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid...
from 1964 to 1982.
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland on 15 May 1917, he was ordained
Holy 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 15 June 1946. He was appointed the 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 Motherwell 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 8 December 1964, 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 24 February 1965. 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 James Donald Scanlan
James Donald Scanlan
James Donald Scanlan was a Roman Catholic prelate who served firstly as the Bishop of Dunkeld, then Bishop of Motherwell, and ultimately Archbishop of Glasgow....
of Glasgow, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop James Black
James Black (bishop)
The Right Reverend James Black was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley in Scotland.-Early life:...
of Paisley and Bishop Stephen McGill
Stephen McGill
The Right Reverend Stephen McGill PSS was the sixth Bishop of Argyll and the Isles and second Bishop of Paisley.-Early life:...
of Argyll and the Isles (later Bishop of Paisley).
He resigned on 14 December 1982 and assumed the title Bishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Motherwell. He died on 6 December 1987, aged 70.