Hugh Hanna
Encyclopedia
Hugh Hanna nicknamed Roaring Hanna, was an evangelical preacher in Belfast
known for his anti-Catholicism
.
, County Down
, Hanna studied at Bullick's Academy in Belfast before becoming a draper
. He was inspired by Josias Wilson to become a Sunday school
teacher, then a full-time teacher at a religious school. During this period, he studied at the Belfast Academical Institution. In 1847, he decided to become a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
. He began missionary work in north Belfast in 1851, founding a congregation in Berry Street, which moved to St Enoch's in Carlisle Circus in 1872.
Hanna organised a large number of both national and Sunday schools; in 1880, he was made a Commissioner of national education. He also spoke widely at religious revivalist meetings. In 1857, the Church of Ireland
was asked by local magistrates to postpone open-air preaching, in an effort to calm sectarian tensions. Hanna, with the encouragement of Henry Cooke
, objected to this, and preached in public, with widespread riots ensuing. A more successful rally followed in 1859, when Hanna addressed over 20,000 people in the Belfast Botanic Gardens
. He fiercely opposed the Home Rule Bill of 1886, claiming that Roman Catholic police officers had been brought from other parts of Ireland
in an attempt to intimidate Protestant opinion.
A black marble statue to Hanna was erected in Carlisle Circus in 1894; this was removed after it was damaged by an Irish Republican Army
bomb in 1970.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
known for his anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
.
Biography
Born in DromaraDromara
Dromara is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies to the southwest of Ballynahinch on the northern slopes of Slieve Croob, with the River Lagan flowing through it. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 597 people....
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Hanna studied at Bullick's Academy in Belfast before becoming a draper
Draper
Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a wholesaler, or especially retailer, of cloth, mainly for clothing, or one who works in a draper's shop. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. The drapers were an important trade guild...
. He was inspired by Josias Wilson to become a Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
teacher, then a full-time teacher at a religious school. During this period, he studied at the Belfast Academical Institution. In 1847, he decided to become a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
. He began missionary work in north Belfast in 1851, founding a congregation in Berry Street, which moved to St Enoch's in Carlisle Circus in 1872.
Hanna organised a large number of both national and Sunday schools; in 1880, he was made a Commissioner of national education. He also spoke widely at religious revivalist meetings. In 1857, 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...
was asked by local magistrates to postpone open-air preaching, in an effort to calm sectarian tensions. Hanna, with the encouragement of Henry Cooke
Henry Cooke (minister)
Henry Cooke D.D. was an Irish presbyterian leader of the early and mid-nineteenth century.-Upbringing:Henry Cooke came of a family of puritan settlers in County Down from Devonshire. He was the youngest son of John Cooke, tenant farmer of Grillagh, near Maghera, County Londonderry, by his second...
, objected to this, and preached in public, with widespread riots ensuing. A more successful rally followed in 1859, when Hanna addressed over 20,000 people in the Belfast Botanic Gardens
Belfast Botanic Gardens
Belfast Botanic Gardens is a public park in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Occupying of south Belfast, the gardens are popular with office workers, students and tourists. They are located on Stranmillis Road in Belfast's university area, with Queen's University nearby...
. He fiercely opposed the Home Rule Bill of 1886, claiming that Roman Catholic police officers had been brought from other parts of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in an attempt to intimidate Protestant opinion.
A black marble statue to Hanna was erected in Carlisle Circus in 1894; this was removed after it was damaged by an Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
bomb in 1970.