James Gordon (bishop)
Encyclopedia
James Gordon was a Roman Catholic bishop
who served as the Vicar Apostolic for the whole of Scotland
from 1718 to 1727, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1727 to 1746.
Born in Glastirum, Enzie, Banffshire
on 31 January 1665, he was ordained
a priest
in 1692. He was appointed the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Scotland and Titular Bishop
of Nicopolis ad Iaterum by the Holy See
on 21 August 1705. He was consecrated
to the Episcopate
in Montefiascone
, northwest of Rome
, on 11 April 1706. The principal consecrator
was Bishop Peter Augustine Baines
, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Andrew Scott
and Bishop James Kyle
. Following the death of Bishop Thomas Joseph Nicolson
on 12 October 1718, he automatically succeeded as the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland. On 23 July 1727, Scotland was divided into the Lowland and Highland Districts, with James Gordon appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Lowland District. He died in office on 18 February 1746, aged 81.
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 as the Vicar Apostolic for the whole of Scotland
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...
from 1718 to 1727, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1727 to 1746.
Born in Glastirum, Enzie, Banffshire
Banffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
on 31 January 1665, 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....
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....
in 1692. He was appointed the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Scotland 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 Nicopolis ad Iaterum 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 21 August 1705. 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...
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 Montefiascone
Montefiascone
Montefiascone is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo, Italy, located on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, 95 km north of GRA .-History:...
, northwest of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, on 11 April 1706. 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 Peter Augustine Baines
Peter Augustine Baines
Peter Augustine Baines was an English Benedictine, Titular Bishop of Siga and Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of England.-Life:...
, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott (bishop)
Andrew Scott was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of Scotland from 1832 to 1845....
and Bishop James Kyle
James Kyle (bishop)
James Francis Kyle was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the first Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of Scotland.Born in Edinburgh on 22 September 1788, he was ordained a priest on 21 March 1812...
. Following the death of Bishop Thomas Joseph Nicolson
Thomas Joseph Nicolson
Thomas Joseph Nicolson was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland.Born in Birkenbog, Banffshire in 1645, He was converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1682. He was ordained a priest on 9 March 1686. He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland and Titular...
on 12 October 1718, he automatically succeeded as the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland. On 23 July 1727, Scotland was divided into the Lowland and Highland Districts, with James Gordon appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Lowland District. He died in office on 18 February 1746, aged 81.