James Romanus Bilsborrow
Encyclopedia
James Romanus Bilsborrow, O.S.B.
(27 August 1862 – 19 June 1931) was a Roman Catholic Church
prelate
and Benedictine
priest
. He served as the first Archbishop of Cardiff
(1916–1920), having previously been Bishop of Port-Louis
(1916–1920).
Born in Preston, Lancashire on 27 August 1862, he was ordained
a priest
in the Order of Saint Benedict
on 23 June 1889. He was appointed the Bishop
of the Diocese of Port-Louis
in Mauritius
on 13 September 1910. His consecration
to the Episcopate
took place on 24 February 1911, the principal consecrator
was John Cuthbert Hedley
, Bishop of Newport, and the principal co-consecrators were Peter Augustine O’Neill, Bishop Emeritus
of Port-Louis and Joseph Robert Cowgill
, Bishop of Leeds. Six years later, Bilsborrow was appointed the first Archbishop of Cardiff
on 7 February 1916.
He resigned the post on 16 December 1920 and appointed Titular Archbishop of Cius. He died on 19 June 1931, aged 68.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(27 August 1862 – 19 June 1931) was a Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
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...
and Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
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....
. He served as the first Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop of Cardiff
The Archbishop of Cardiff is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.The archdiocese covers an area of and spans the historic counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and eastern Glamorganshire...
(1916–1920), having previously been Bishop of Port-Louis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Louis
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Louis is a Roman Catholic diocese located in the city of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius.-History:...
(1916–1920).
Born in Preston, Lancashire on 27 August 1862, 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 the Order of Saint Benedict
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
on 23 June 1889. 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 Port-Louis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Louis
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Louis is a Roman Catholic diocese located in the city of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius.-History:...
in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
on 13 September 1910. His consecration
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...
took place on 24 February 1911, 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 John Cuthbert Hedley
John Cuthbert Hedley
John Cuthbert Hedley was a British Benedictine and writer who held high offices in the Roman Catholic Church....
, Bishop of Newport, and the principal co-consecrators were Peter Augustine O’Neill, 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 Port-Louis and Joseph Robert Cowgill
Joseph Robert Cowgill
Joseph Robert Cowgill was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third Bishop of Leeds.-Life and ministry:...
, Bishop of Leeds. Six years later, Bilsborrow was appointed the first Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop of Cardiff
The Archbishop of Cardiff is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.The archdiocese covers an area of and spans the historic counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and eastern Glamorganshire...
on 7 February 1916.
He resigned the post on 16 December 1920 and appointed Titular Archbishop of Cius. He died on 19 June 1931, aged 68.