George Witham
Encyclopedia
George Witham was an English
Roman Catholic bishop
who served firstly as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District.
on 16 May 1655, the son of George Witham and Grace (or Catherine) Witham (née Wyvill). He had six brothers, three whom were also ordained
to the priesthood
. Thomas was Superior of the English Seminary in Paris, Robert was Preident of English College, Douai
, and Anthony was a Douai priest, who fell into ill heath and retired to serve the convent of the Poor Clares in Rouen
.
In 1694, Witham was sent to Rome by bishops Leyburn
, Giffard
and Smith
. In their letter to the Propaganda Fide, dated 20 October 1694, they commissioned Witham to serve as their agent for English matters with the authorities in Rome. He was also recommended to the Propaganda Fide by a letter from James II & VII
, the exiled king of England and Scotland. Witham remained in his post in Rome until nominated to a Vicariate in 1702.
, following the death of John Leyburn
in 1702. He was consecrated
the Titular Bishop
of Marcopolis
on 15 April 1703 by Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo, Bishop of Montefiascone
. On his return to England, it had been determined instead for Bonaventure Giffard
to transfer from the Midland District
to the London District
on 14 March 1703. Leaving Witham appointed in charge of the Midland District on 12 August 1702.
After fourteen years, he transferred to the Northern District on 6 April 1716. Due to his increasing age and various infirmities he wrote to Rome on 26 March 1723 to request for a coadjutor
. He suggested Edward Dicconson
for the post, however, the Holy See
did not comply to the request.
He died in office at Cliffe Hall on 16 April 1725, aged 69, and was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mansfield
.
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...
Roman Catholic 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....
who served firstly as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to...
, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District.
Early life
He was born at Cliffe Hall, Cliffe, near DarlingtonDarlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
on 16 May 1655, the son of George Witham and Grace (or Catherine) Witham (née Wyvill). He had six brothers, three whom were also 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....
. Thomas was Superior of the English Seminary in Paris, Robert was Preident of 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 Anthony was a Douai priest, who fell into ill heath and retired to serve the convent of the Poor Clares in Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
.
In 1694, Witham was sent to Rome by bishops Leyburn
John Leyburn
John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...
, 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:...
and Smith
James Smith (vicar apostolic)
James Smith was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar-Apostolic of the Northern District under James II of England.-Life:Born at Winchester in 1645, he was educated at the English College, Douai, and was created D.D. on 5 February 1680...
. In their letter to the Propaganda Fide, dated 20 October 1694, they commissioned Witham to serve as their agent for English matters with the authorities in Rome. He was also recommended to the Propaganda Fide by a letter from James II & VII
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, the exiled king of England and Scotland. Witham remained in his post in Rome until nominated to a Vicariate in 1702.
Vicar Apostolic
It had been intended for Witham to succeed as the Vicar Apostolic of the London DistrictVicar 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:...
, following the death of John Leyburn
John Leyburn
John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...
in 1702. He was 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...
the 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 Marcopolis
Marcopolis
Marcopolis is a Catholic titular see. The original diocese was in Asia Minor, a suffragan of Edessa. The native name of this city is not known, but it owes its Greek name to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius....
on 15 April 1703 by Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo, Bishop of Montefiascone
Diocese of Montefiascone
The diocese of Montefiascone is a Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Italy. It was created from the diocese of Bagnorea in 1396, and in 1986 was united into the diocese of Viterbo, Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Montefiascone, Tuscania e San Martino al Monte Cimino.-History:Its first bishop was the...
. On his return to England, it had been determined instead for 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:...
to transfer from the Midland District
Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to...
to 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:...
on 14 March 1703. Leaving Witham appointed in charge of the Midland District on 12 August 1702.
After fourteen years, he transferred to the Northern District on 6 April 1716. Due to his increasing age and various infirmities he wrote to Rome on 26 March 1723 to request for a coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
. He suggested Edward Dicconson
Edward Dicconson
Edward Dicconson was an English Catholic bishop, Titular Bishop of Malla and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England.-Life:...
for the post, however, 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...
did not comply to the request.
He died in office at Cliffe Hall on 16 April 1725, aged 69, and was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mansfield
St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mansfield
St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mansfield is a parish church in the Church of England located in Mansfield, Nottingham.The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest....
.