Robert Cornthwaite (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert Cornthwaite was an English
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church. He was last Bishop of Beverley
and the first Bishop of Leeds
.
, the son of William Cornthwaite and Elizabeth Cornthwaite (née Cuerden). He entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
on 9 May 1830, and received the Tonsure
and the four minor orders
from Bishop Francis George Mostyn
on 5 June 1841. During his last year at Ushaw, Cornthwaite taught Humanities
. He entered the English College, Rome on 30 September 1842, and took the oath
there on 2 July 1842. He was ordained
a subdeacon
in December 1843, a deacon
on 3 March 1844, and a priest
on 9 November 1845. After leaving the English College on 13 April 1846, he joined the mission at Carlisle. He returned to Rome on his appointment as the Rector of the English College, Rome on 25 August 1851, remaining in that post until resigned in September 1857. On his return to England, he became the Missionary Rector of St Augustine's, Darlington
and Secretary to Dr William Hogarth
, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. He was appointed Cameriere d'onore extra Urbem (Honorary Prelate
) to His Holiness on 16 July 1858, and made Canon
and Theologian
of the Chapter
of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
.
of the Diocese of Beverley
on 3 September 1861. His consecration
to the Episcopate
took place on 10 November 1861, the principal consecrator
was Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, with Bishop Thomas Grant of Southwark and Bishop Richard Roskell
of Nottingham serving as co-consecrators
.
On the 20 December 1878, the Diocese of Beverley was suppressed and it was replaced by the dioceses of Leeds and Middlesbrough
. Bishop Cornthwaite continued to serve as the Bishop of Leeds
until his death on 16 June 1890, aged 72. He is buried at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Sicklinghall
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
of the Roman Catholic Church. He was last Bishop of Beverley
Diocese of Beverley
The Diocese of Beverley is an historical diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in England. It took its name after the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The diocese was established in 1850 and was replaced by two dioceses in 1878...
and the first Bishop of Leeds
Bishop of Leeds
The Bishop of Leeds is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds in the Province of Liverpool, England.The Vicariate Apostolic of the Yorkshire District was elevated to diocese status as the Diocese of Beverley on 29 September 1850, which was suppressed on 20 December 1878 and its area...
.
Early life and ministry
Robert Cornthwaite was born in Preston in 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...
, the son of William Cornthwaite and Elizabeth Cornthwaite (née Cuerden). He entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
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:...
on 9 May 1830, and received the Tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
and the four minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
from Bishop Francis George Mostyn
Francis George Mostyn
Francis George Mostyn was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England from 1840 to 1847....
on 5 June 1841. During his last year at Ushaw, Cornthwaite taught Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. He entered the English College, Rome on 30 September 1842, and took the oath
Religious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
there on 2 July 1842. 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:...
in December 1843, 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 3 March 1844, 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 9 November 1845. After leaving the English College on 13 April 1846, he joined the mission at Carlisle. He returned to Rome on his appointment as the Rector of the English College, Rome on 25 August 1851, remaining in that post until resigned in September 1857. On his return to England, he became the Missionary Rector of St Augustine's, Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
and Secretary to Dr William Hogarth
William Hogarth (bishop)
William Hogarth was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Early life and ministry:...
, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. He was appointed Cameriere d'onore extra Urbem (Honorary Prelate
Honorary Prelate
An Honorary Prelate of His Holiness is a priest to whom the Pope has granted this title. They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges as regards ecclesiastical dress...
) to His Holiness on 16 July 1858, and made Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and Theologian
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
of the Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is a Roman Catholic diocese of the Latin Rite centred around St Mary's Cathedral in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in England...
.
Episcopal career
Monsignor Cornthwaite was appointed the bishopBishop (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 Beverley
Diocese of Beverley
The Diocese of Beverley is an historical diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in England. It took its name after the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The diocese was established in 1850 and was replaced by two dioceses in 1878...
on 3 September 1861. 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 10 November 1861, 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 Nicholas Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, with Bishop Thomas Grant of Southwark and Bishop Richard Roskell
Richard Roskell
Bishop Richard Butler Roskell was Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham and Titular Bishop of Abdera.Born on 15 August 1817 at Gateacre, near Liverpool, he was ordained a priest on 9 June 1840, aged 22...
of Nottingham serving as co-consecrators
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...
.
On the 20 December 1878, the Diocese of Beverley was suppressed and it was replaced by the dioceses of Leeds and Middlesbrough
Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese based in Middlesbrough, England and is part of the province of Liverpool. It was founded on 20 December 1878, with the splitting of the Diocese of Beverley which had covered all of Yorkshire...
. Bishop Cornthwaite continued to serve as the Bishop of Leeds
Bishop of Leeds
The Bishop of Leeds is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds in the Province of Liverpool, England.The Vicariate Apostolic of the Yorkshire District was elevated to diocese status as the Diocese of Beverley on 29 September 1850, which was suppressed on 20 December 1878 and its area...
until his death on 16 June 1890, aged 72. He is buried at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Sicklinghall
Sicklinghall
Sicklinghall is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England that is situated between the town of Wetherby and the village of Kirkby Overblow.In 2007 the population was recorded as 300.The main amenities in the village are St Peter's Church,...
.