Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Encyclopedia
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
. The diocese is one of the six suffragan sees in the ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool
and covers much of North-East England.
, restoring the Catholic hierarchy to England and Wales
. Although the ancient See of Hexham was founded in 678 it had later lapsed. Together with the See of Lindisfarne
, founded by Saint Aidan
, Hexham formed the main part of the Northumbrian kingdom's ecclesiastical structure. Among the early bishops elected to the see in 684 was Saint Cuthbert, the present-day patron of the modern diocese. However, Cuthbert almost immediately swapped his new diocese with that of Eata of Lindisfarne. Later bishops in Hexham included Acca of Hexham
.
The modern diocese was expanded to include the title of Newcastle in 1861. The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, originally under the metropolitan See of Westminster, became part of the new Province of Liverpool (often referred to as the 'Northern Province') in 1911.
On the restoration of the diocese in 1850, Pius IX appointed Bishop William Hogarth, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, to be the first bishop of the diocese. The Parish Church of Saint Mary, Newcastle upon Tyne
, designed by Augustus Welby Pugin was selected as the seat for the new bishop, gaining cathedral status.
In 1924, Pope Pius XI
withdrew the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, in order to incorporate them into a newly-created Diocese of Lancaster
. For this reason, Lancaster Diocese still considers St Cuthbert as one of its principal patrons. Other territory was taken from the Archdiocese of Liverpool
to form the new see.
, Tyne and Wear
and County Durham
. In this respect, it comprises three cities: Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham
, and Sunderland
.
The Diocesan Curia
and Chancery are officially based at Bishop's House, East Denton Hall, in the west-end of Newcastle. However, the Tribunal and other commissions are actually based at the nearby Curial Offices at St Vincent's in St Cuthbert's House.
The Diocese is also home to the regional seminary
for the north of England, Ushaw College
, near Durham. The seminary has strong links with the University of Durham which validates the degree courses offered there. The seminary is governed by the bishops of the Northern Province under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Liverpool
. However, as the local ordinary, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
always holds the position of Vice-Chairman of Governors.
The Diocesan patrons are Our Blessed Lady Immaculate (8 December) and Saint Cuthbert, Bishop and Confessor (20 March).
, the Most Reverend
Bishop Seamus Cunningham
, who succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Dunn
, who died on 1 March 2008. Bishop Dunn had succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, who himself died as Bishop Emeritus on Tuesday, 14 June 2011, on 25 May 2004.
There are presently 214 diocesan priests (57 of whom are retired), 6 permanent deacons, and 1 bishop emeritus, serving 183 parishes. A number of religious orders are also present in the diocese, including the Dominicans, the Passionists, the Redemporists, the Carmelites, the Poor Clares and the Sisters of Mercy.
In 2005 Bishop Dunn reorganised the structure of the Diocese and Curia. He introduced five Episcopal Areas. These areas are arranged geographically and are known as Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Sunderland and East Durham, South Tyneside, Gateshead and North West Durham, and Cleveland and South Durham. At the same time he appointed the man who would ultimately be his successor, Canon Seamus Cunningham, as Vicar General
. He also appointed a new Chancellor for the Curia and a new Episcopal Vicar for Religious.
Following the death of Bishop Dunn on 1 March 2008, and in accordance with Canons 165 – 178 and Canons 421 – 425 of the Code of Canon Law, the Diocesan College of Consultors met on 2 March 2008. At their meeting, the Consultors elected Canon Seamus Cunningham as the Diocesan Administrator.
On Friday, 9 January 2009 a press release by Vatican Information Service
, confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI
had named Seamus Cunningham
as the new bishop-elect of the diocese. He received his episcopal ordination on Friday, 20 March 2009 - the feast day of St. Cuthbert - the diocesan patron.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite centred around St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Cathedral Church of St Mary is a Catholic cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the mother church of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and seat of the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. The Cathedral, situated on Clayton Street, was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin and built between 1842...
in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The diocese is one of the six suffragan sees in the ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and covers much of North-East England.
History and Formation
The Diocese of Hexham was revived in 1850 by decree of Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, restoring the Catholic hierarchy to 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...
. Although the ancient See of Hexham was founded in 678 it had later lapsed. Together with the See of Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
, founded by Saint Aidan
Aidan of Lindisfarne
Known as Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, Aidan the Apostle of Northumbria , was the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in England. A Christian missionary, he is credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria. Aidan is the Anglicised form of the original Old...
, Hexham formed the main part of the Northumbrian kingdom's ecclesiastical structure. Among the early bishops elected to the see in 684 was Saint Cuthbert, the present-day patron of the modern diocese. However, Cuthbert almost immediately swapped his new diocese with that of Eata of Lindisfarne. Later bishops in Hexham included Acca of Hexham
Acca of Hexham
Acca , Bishop of Hexham.Born in Northumbria, Acca first served in the household of Bosa, the future Bishop of York, but later attached himself to Saint Wilfrid, possibly as early as 678, and accompanied him on his travels. On the return from their second journey to Rome in 692, Wilfrid was...
.
The modern diocese was expanded to include the title of Newcastle in 1861. The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, originally under the metropolitan See of Westminster, became part of the new Province of Liverpool (often referred to as the 'Northern Province') in 1911.
On the restoration of the diocese in 1850, Pius IX appointed Bishop William Hogarth, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, to be the first bishop of the diocese. The Parish Church of Saint Mary, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, designed by Augustus Welby Pugin was selected as the seat for the new bishop, gaining cathedral status.
In 1924, Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
withdrew the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, in order to incorporate them into a newly-created Diocese of Lancaster
Diocese of Lancaster
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese centred around Lancaster Cathedral in the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England....
. For this reason, Lancaster Diocese still considers St Cuthbert as one of its principal patrons. Other territory was taken from the Archdiocese of Liverpool
Archdiocese of Liverpool
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite, of the Roman Catholic church in England. The episcopal see is the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, located in Liverpool. The Archdiocese covers the south west of the traditional county of Lancashire...
to form the new see.
The Diocese Today
The modern Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle comprises the counties of NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
and 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...
. In this respect, it comprises three cities: Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, and Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
.
The Diocesan Curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
and Chancery are officially based at Bishop's House, East Denton Hall, in the west-end of Newcastle. However, the Tribunal and other commissions are actually based at the nearby Curial Offices at St Vincent's in St Cuthbert's House.
The Diocese is also home to the regional seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
for the north of England, 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:...
, near Durham. The seminary has strong links with the University of Durham which validates the degree courses offered there. The seminary is governed by the bishops of the Northern Province under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Liverpool
Archbishop of Liverpool
The Archbishop of Liverpool heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
. However, as the local ordinary, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
always holds the position of Vice-Chairman of Governors.
The Diocesan patrons are Our Blessed Lady Immaculate (8 December) and Saint Cuthbert, Bishop and Confessor (20 March).
Current Pastor
The See of Hexham and Newcastle is held by His ExcellencyExcellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
, the Most Reverend
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Bishop Seamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in the north of England.-Biography:...
, who succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Dunn
Kevin John Dunn
The Right Reverend Kevin John Dunn was the 12th Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Early life:Kevin Dunn was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire on 9 July 1950 and educated at St Mary's Primary School and St Patrick's Secondary School, both in Newcastle-under-Lyme...
, who died on 1 March 2008. Bishop Dunn had succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, who himself died as Bishop Emeritus on Tuesday, 14 June 2011, on 25 May 2004.
There are presently 214 diocesan priests (57 of whom are retired), 6 permanent deacons, and 1 bishop emeritus, serving 183 parishes. A number of religious orders are also present in the diocese, including the Dominicans, the Passionists, the Redemporists, the Carmelites, the Poor Clares and the Sisters of Mercy.
In 2005 Bishop Dunn reorganised the structure of the Diocese and Curia. He introduced five Episcopal Areas. These areas are arranged geographically and are known as Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Sunderland and East Durham, South Tyneside, Gateshead and North West Durham, and Cleveland and South Durham. At the same time he appointed the man who would ultimately be his successor, Canon Seamus Cunningham, as 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...
. He also appointed a new Chancellor for the Curia and a new Episcopal Vicar for Religious.
Following the death of Bishop Dunn on 1 March 2008, and in accordance with Canons 165 – 178 and Canons 421 – 425 of the Code of Canon Law, the Diocesan College of Consultors met on 2 March 2008. At their meeting, the Consultors elected Canon Seamus Cunningham as the Diocesan Administrator.
On Friday, 9 January 2009 a press release by Vatican Information Service
Vatican Information Service
The Vatican Information Service is an official news service of the Holy See Press Office.The service was founded in 1991, and transmits news on a daily basis at 3pm Rome time, except during the month of August and on Vatican State holidays .The service is available in four languages: English,...
, confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
had named Seamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in the north of England.-Biography:...
as the new bishop-elect of the diocese. He received his episcopal ordination on Friday, 20 March 2009 - the feast day of St. Cuthbert - the diocesan patron.
See also
- Bishops of Hexham and NewcastleBishop of Hexham and NewcastleThe Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
- Basil Hume - Cardinal Hume was a native son of Newcastle
- St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne - Diocesan Cathedral Church
- Diocese of LancasterDiocese of LancasterThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese centred around Lancaster Cathedral in the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England....
- Bishop of Lindisfarne
External links
- Official Diocesan Website
- Official Cathedral Website - St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
- The Latin Mass Society in The RC Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
- Catholic Church in England and Wales - official website
- Giga-Catholic Information