George Hilary Brown
Encyclopedia
George Hilary Brown was an English
prelate
who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool
from 1850 to 1856.
on 15 January 1784, the son of William Brown and Helen Brown (née Gradwell). His first cousin was Robert Gradwell
, Vicar Apostolic of the London District
. George entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
on 25 September 1799, and received the Tonsure
, the four Minor Orders
, and the sub-diaconate
, at Ushaw, on 2 April 1808, from Bishop William Gibson
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. By the same bishop, he was ordained, at Ushaw, a deacon
on 14 December 1809 and a priest
on 13 June 1810. He left Ushaw College on 8 April 1819, and took charge of the mission at Lancaster
until he was nominated to the Lancashire Vicariate.
and Titular Bishop
of Bugia on 5 June 1840, and consecrated
to the Episcopate
in Liverpool
on 24 August 1840. The principal consecrator
was Bishop John Briggs, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Thomas Griffiths
and Bishop Thomas Walsh
. His titular see
was translated
from Bugia to Tlos on 22 April 1842.
On 29 September 1850, the hierarchy was restored in England and Wales
by Pope Pius IX
. On that same day, the Liverpool District was replaced by the dioceses of Liverpool and Salford. George Hilary Brown was appointed the first Bishop of Liverpool
.
He died in Liverpool on 25 January 1856, aged 72, and was buried at St Oswald's Church, Old Swan
, Liverpool.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool
Archbishop of Liverpool
The Archbishop of Liverpool heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
from 1850 to 1856.
Early life
George Hilary Brown was born in Clifton, LancashireClifton, Lancashire
Clifton is a village in the English county of Lancashire and in the district of Fylde. The village is part of the civil parish of Newton with Clifton...
on 15 January 1784, the son of William Brown and Helen Brown (née Gradwell). His first cousin was Robert Gradwell
Robert Gradwell
-Life:Gradwell was born at Clifton-in-the Fylde, Lancashire.He went to the English College, Douai in 1791. The college being suppressed by the French revolutionists, he was confined for some time, and was not allowed to return to England till 1795...
, Vicar Apostolic of the London District
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:...
. George entered 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:...
on 25 September 1799, and received the Tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
, the four Minor Orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
, and the sub-diaconate
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
, at Ushaw, on 2 April 1808, from Bishop William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. By the same bishop, he was ordained, at Ushaw, a 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...
on 14 December 1809 and a priest
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 13 June 1810. He left Ushaw College on 8 April 1819, and took charge of the mission at Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
until he was nominated to the Lancashire Vicariate.
Episcopal career
He was appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire DistrictVicar Apostolic of the Lancashire District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire District was the title given to the bishop who headed an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England...
and 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 Bugia on 5 June 1840, 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...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 24 August 1840. 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 Bishop John Briggs, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Thomas Griffiths
Thomas Griffiths (bishop)
Thomas Griffiths was an English Roman Catholic bishop.-Life:He was the first and only Vicar Apostolic of the London District educated wholly in England. At the age of thirteen he was sent to St. Edmund's College, Old Hall, where he went through the whole course, and was ordained priest in 1814...
and Bishop Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh (UK bishop)
Bishop Thomas Walsh was a Roman Catholic clergyman and Vicar Apostolic who served the Midlands area of the United Kingdom. He was born in London on 3 October 1776, and ordained priest on 19 September 1801...
. His titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
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...
from Bugia to Tlos on 22 April 1842.
On 29 September 1850, the hierarchy was restored in England and Wales
Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae is the incipit of the papal bull of 29 September 1850 by which Pope Pius IX recreated the Roman Catholic diocesan hierarchy in England, which had been extinguished with the death of the last Marian bishop in the reign of Elizabeth I. New names were given to the dioceses, as...
by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. On that same day, the Liverpool District was replaced by the dioceses of Liverpool and Salford. George Hilary Brown was appointed the first Bishop of Liverpool
Archbishop of Liverpool
The Archbishop of Liverpool heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
.
He died in Liverpool on 25 January 1856, aged 72, and was buried at St Oswald's Church, Old Swan
Old Swan
Old Swan is an inner-city area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located fairly centrally in the city, bordered by Stoneycroft, Broadgreen, Fairfield and Wavertree...
, Liverpool.