James Sharples (bishop)
Encyclopedia
James Sharples was an English
Roman Catholic bishop. He served as coadjutor
to the Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire District
from 1843 until his death in 1850.
, James Sharples began training for the priesthood
at Ushaw College
in County Durham
on 27 January 1809. He left Ushaw on 21 September 1818, and continued with his studies at the English College, Rome, arriving there on 18 December 1818. He became a distinguished student, winning prizes in Theology
and Hebrew. While at the English College, he was ordained
a subdeacon
on 21 December 1822, a deacon
on 20 May 1823, and a priest
on 30 November 1823. He left Rome in July 1824 to join the mission in the north of England.
, with rights of succession, to Bishop George Hilary Brown
, by the Propaganda Fide on 7 August 1843. The appointment was approved by Pope Gregory XVI
on the same day, and dispatched on 8 August 1843. His brief
to the Titular See
of Samaria
was dated 11 August 1843, and consecrated
Titular Bishop
of Samaria at the Church of Sant'Agata dei Goti
in Rome by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
on 15 August 1843.
In July 1847, he returned to Rome on business connected with the restoration of the hierarchy
in England and Wales
, however, his health took a turn for the worse. He returned to England and the doctors pronounced any recovery of his condition was hopeless. He died in Eccleston, Lancashire
on 11 August 1850, aged 53, just weeks before the hierarchy was restored.
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. He served as 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...
to the Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire District
Vicar 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...
from 1843 until his death in 1850.
Early life and ministry
A native of LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, James Sharples began training for 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....
at Ushaw College
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:...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
on 27 January 1809. He left Ushaw on 21 September 1818, and continued with his studies at the English College, Rome, arriving there on 18 December 1818. He became a distinguished student, winning prizes in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Hebrew. While at the English College, 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 subdeacon
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:...
on 21 December 1822, 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 20 May 1823, 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 30 November 1823. He left Rome in July 1824 to join the mission in the north of England.
Episcopal career
He was appointed coadjutorCoadjutor 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...
, with rights of succession, to Bishop George Hilary Brown
George Hilary Brown
George Hilary Brown was an English prelate who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool from 1850 to 1856.-Early life:...
, by the Propaganda Fide on 7 August 1843. The appointment was approved by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
on the same day, and dispatched on 8 August 1843. His brief
Papal brief
The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...
to the 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"....
of Samaria
Samaria
Samaria, or the Shomron is a term used for a mountainous region roughly corresponding to the northern part of the West Bank.- Etymology :...
was dated 11 August 1843, 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...
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 Samaria at the Church of Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti is a church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha. It is currently the titular church assigned to Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, currently Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.-History:...
in Rome by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
Giacomo Filippo Fransoni was an Italian Cardinal who served from 1834 to 1856 as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith....
on 15 August 1843.
In July 1847, he returned to Rome on business connected with the restoration of the hierarchy
Catholic Church hierarchy
The term Hierarchy in the Catholic Church has a variety of related usages. Literally, "holy government", the term is employed in different instances. There is a Hierarchy of Truths, which refers to the levels of solemnity of the official teaching of the faith...
in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, however, his health took a turn for the worse. He returned to England and the doctors pronounced any recovery of his condition was hopeless. He died in Eccleston, Lancashire
Eccleston, Lancashire
-Mr.Asia's Murder:Christopher Marty Johnstone was a New Zealand drug trafficker. The former Takapuna Grammar pupil was dubbed "Mr Asia" by the Auckland Star newspaper in August 1978 in a series of articles by Pat Booth....
on 11 August 1850, aged 53, just weeks before the hierarchy was restored.