John Cunningham (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Cunningham is a Roman Catholic priest
who is the current Bishop of Galloway
.
John Cunningham was born in Paisley
, Renfrewshire
, Scotland on 22 February 1938. He was educated at St Mary's College, Blairs
and St. Peter's Seminary, Cardross
. Later he was a student of the Scots College, Rome
. from where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University
He was ordained
to the priesthood
on 29 June 1961. From 1967 to 1981, he was extramural
professor
of Canon Law
at St Peter's College, Glasgow
. He was parish priest at St Patrick's, Greenock
from 1992–2004 and was appointed Papal Chaplain
in 1994. From 1997 to 2004 he was Vicar General
of the Diocese of Paisley
. He was made a Prelate of Honour
in 1999.
On the day Maurice Taylor
retired on 7 April 2004, Cunningham was appointed the Bishop
of the Diocese of Galloway
by the Holy See
. He was consecrated
to the Episcopate
on 28 May 2004, the principal consecrator
being Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
with co-consecrating bishops the Rt Rev Maurice Taylor
, Bishop Emeritus
of Galloway and the Rt Rev John Mone
, Bishop of Paisley
.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who is the current Bishop of Galloway
Bishop of Galloway
The Bishop of Galloway, also called the Bishop of Whithorn, was the eccesiastical head of the Diocese of Galloway, said to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the mid-5th century. The subsequent Anglo-Saxon bishopric was founded in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and the first known...
.
John Cunningham was born in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, Scotland on 22 February 1938. He was educated at St Mary's College, Blairs
Blairs College
St Mary's College, Blairs was from 1829 to 1986 a junior seminary for boys and young men studying for the Roman Catholic priesthood....
and St. Peter's Seminary, Cardross
St. Peter's Seminary (Cardross)
St. Peter's Seminary is a disused Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Designed by the firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, it has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance"...
. Later he was a student of the Scots College, Rome
The Scots College (Rome)
The Scots College in Rome was established by Clement VIII in 1600, when it was assigned the revenue of the old Scots' hospice...
. from where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
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....
to 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....
on 29 June 1961. From 1967 to 1981, he was extramural
Extramural
Extramural means to study outside, but under the aegis of, a university or other institution. Extramural studies are taken by the student away from the physical campus, and are often used for those unable to attend classes....
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at St Peter's College, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He was parish priest at St Patrick's, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
from 1992–2004 and was appointed Papal Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in 1994. From 1997 to 2004 he was Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Diocese of Paisley
Diocese of Paisley
The Diocese of Paisley is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Erected on 25 May 1947 from the Archdiocese of Glasgow the diocese covers the historic county of Renfrewshire and is in area making it the smallest diocese by area in Scotland...
. He was made a Prelate of Honour
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1999.
On the day Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor (Bishop)
Maurice Taylor was the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway, Scotland from 1981 until 2004.Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire he attended St Cuthbert's Primary, Burnbank, before going on to St...
retired on 7 April 2004, Cunningham 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 Galloway
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. The diocese of Galloway had broken allegiance with Rome in 1560, and disappeared in 1689...
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...
. 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...
on 28 May 2004, 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...
being Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
The Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The archdiocese covers an area of 5,504 km²...
with co-consecrating bishops the Rt Rev Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor (Bishop)
Maurice Taylor was the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway, Scotland from 1981 until 2004.Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire he attended St Cuthbert's Primary, Burnbank, before going on to St...
, 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 Galloway and the Rt Rev John Mone
John Mone
The Right Reverend John Aloysius Mone was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Paisley.-Early life:John Mone was fourth of the six children of Arthur Mone and Elizabeth Dunn...
, Bishop of Paisley
Bishop of Paisley
The Bishop of Paisley is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paisley in the Province of Glasgow.The diocese covers an area of and is the smallest by area in Scotland. The see is in the town of Paisley where the seat is located at St Mirin's Cathedral.The diocese was erected on 25 May...
.