John Aloysius Murphy
Encyclopedia
John Aloysius Murphy was a Roman Catholic Church
prelate
who served firstly as the Bishop of Shrewsbury
from 1949 to 1961, then as the Archbishop of Cardiff
from 1961 to 1983.
He was born in Birkenhead
on the Wirral Peninsula
on 21 December 1905, and ordained
a priest
for the Diocese of Shrewsbury on 21 March 1931. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
of Shrewsbury and Titular Bishop
of Appia on 7 February 1948. His consecration
to the Episcopate
took place on 25 February 1948, the principal consecrator
was Cardinal William Godfrey, Archbishop of Westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop John Edward Petit
of Menevia and Bishop Henry Vincent Marshall
of Salford. On the death of Bishop Ambrose James Moriarty
on 3 June 1949, Murphy automatically succeeded as Bishop of Shrewsbury
. Twelve years later, he was appointed Archbishop of Cardiff
on 25 March 1983.
He retired on 25 March 1983 and assumed the title Archbishop Emeritus
of Cardiff. He died on 18 November 1995, aged 89.
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...
who served firstly as the Bishop of Shrewsbury
Bishop of Shrewsbury
The Bishop of Shrewsbury is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury in the Province of Birmingham, England.The diocese covers an area of of the counties and unitary authorities of Cheshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin with parts of Derbyshire, Halton, Merseyside, Greater...
from 1949 to 1961, then as the 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...
from 1961 to 1983.
He was born in Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
on 21 December 1905, and 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....
for the Diocese of Shrewsbury on 21 March 1931. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
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...
of Shrewsbury 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 Appia on 7 February 1948. 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 25 February 1948, 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 Cardinal William Godfrey, Archbishop of Westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop John Edward Petit
John Edward Petit
John Edward Petit was an Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Menevia from 1947 to 1972.Born in London on 22 June 1895, he was ordained to the priesthood on 9 May 1918. He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Menevia by the Holy See on 8 February 1947...
of Menevia and Bishop Henry Vincent Marshall
Henry Vincent Marshall
Henry Vincent Marshall was the sixth Bishop of Salford, a Roman Catholic diocese in the north-west of England.He was born on 19 July 1884, and ordained priest on 24 June 1908....
of Salford. On the death of Bishop Ambrose James Moriarty
Ambrose James Moriarty
Ambrose James Moriarty was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1934 to 1949....
on 3 June 1949, Murphy automatically succeeded as Bishop of Shrewsbury
Bishop of Shrewsbury
The Bishop of Shrewsbury is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury in the Province of Birmingham, England.The diocese covers an area of of the counties and unitary authorities of Cheshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin with parts of Derbyshire, Halton, Merseyside, Greater...
. Twelve years later, he was appointed 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 25 March 1983.
He retired on 25 March 1983 and assumed the title Archbishop 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 Cardiff. He died on 18 November 1995, aged 89.