Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai, also called (Doornik), is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church
in Belgium
. The diocese was formed in 1146, by the splitting of the diocese of Noyon and Tournai that had existed since the 7th century. It is now suffragan of the archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels.
As early as the second half of the 3rd century St. Piat evangelized Tournai; some writers represent him as the first bishop, but this cannot be proved. Towards the end of the 3rd century the Emperor Maximian rekindled the persecutions, and St. Piat suffered martyrdom.
The barbarian invasions began shortly afterwards. This lasted from the end of the 3rd century till the end of the 5th century. St. Remigius profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. He confided the Diocese of Arras and Cambrai to St. Vaast (Vedastus), and erected the See of Tournai (c. 500), appointing as its titular Eleutherius
.
It was probably its character of royal city which secured for Tournai this premature creation, but it soon lost its rank of capital by the departure of the Merovingian court. Nevertheless it kept its own bishops for nearly a century; then about 626 or 627, under the episcopate of St. Achar, the sees of Tournai and Noyon were united, retaining separate organizations. Tournai then lost the benefit of a privileged situation, and shared the condition of the neighbouring dioceses, such as Boulogne and Therouanne, Arras and Cambrai, where the same titular held both sees for five hundred years. It was only in 1146 that Tournai received its own bishop.
Among its bishops may be mentioned: St. Eleutherius (beginning of 6th century); St. Achar (626-27 — 1 March, 637-38); St. Eloi (641-60); Simon de Vermandois (1121–46); Walter de Marvis (1219–51), the great founder of schools and hospitals; Etienne of Tournai (1192–1203), godfather of Louis VII of France
and minister of the queen; Andrea Chini Malpiglia (1334–42), cardinal and papal legate; Guillaume Fillastre
(1460–73), chancellor of the Golden Fleece
; Michel de Warenghien (1283–91), a very learned doctor; Michel d'Esne (1597–1614), the author of several works.
During the Spanish domination (1521–1667) the see continued to be occupied by natives of the country, but the capture of Tournai by Louis XIV in 1667 caused it to have as bishops a series of Frenchmen: Gilbert de choiseul duplessis praslin
(1670–89); François de La Salle de Caillebot (1692–1705); Louis Marcel de Coëtlogon (1705–07); François de Beauveau (1708–13). After the Treaty of Utrecht
(1713) the French were replaced by Germans: Johann Ernst, Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim
(1713–31); Franz Ernst, Count of Salm-Reifferscheid (1731–1770); Wilhelm Florentine, Prince of Salm-Salm
(1776–94).
The union of the see with Noyon and the removal thither of the seat of the bishopric had favoured the growth of the power of the chapter. The privilege possessed by the chapter under the old régime of being composed only of nobles and scholars necessarily attracted to it the most distinguished for birth and learning. Illustrious names of France and Belgium are inscribed in the registers of the archives or on the tombstones of the cathedral. The cathedral, 439 feet (133.8 m) long by 216 feet (65.8 m) wide, is surmounted by 5 towers 273 feet (83.2 m) high. The nave and transept are Romanesque (12th century), and the choir is primary Gothic, begun in 1242 and finished in 1325. Originally the boundaries of the diocese must have been those of the Civitas Turnacensium mentioned in the "Notice des Gaules". The prescriptions of councils and the interest of the Church both favoured these boundaries, and they were retained throughout the Middle Ages. The diocese then extended along the left bank of the Schelde from the Scarpe to the North Sea, with the exception of the Vier-Ambachten (Hulst, Axel, Bouchaute, and Assenede), which seem to have always belonged to the Diocese of Utrecht. The Schelde thus formed the boundary between the Dioceses of Tournai and Cambrai, cutting in two the towns of Termonde, Ghent, Oudenarde, and Tournai itself. The shore of the North Sea between the Schelde and the Yser was wholly included within the perimeter. On the other side of the Yser was the Diocese of Thérouanne, which bordered Tournai as far as Ypres. There began the Diocese of Arras, which bordered Tournai as far as the confluence of the Scarpe and the Schelde at Mortgne, France. This vast diocese was long divided into three archdeaneries and twelve deaneries. The archdeanery of Bruges comprised the deaneries of Bruges, Ardenbourg, and Oudenbourg; the archdeanery of Ghent, the deaneries of Ghent, Roulers, Oudenarde, and Waes; the archdeanery of Tournai, the deaneries of Tournai, Seclin, Helchin, Lille, and Courtrai.
In 1559 in order to wage more successful war against Protestantism, King Philip II of Spain
obtained from Paul IV the erection of a series of new dioceses. The ancient Diocese of Tournai was divided, nearly two-thirds of its territory being taken away. The outlines of the archdeaneries of Bruges and Ghent formed the new diocese of Bruges and diocese of Ghent, and six parishes passed to the new diocese of Ypres
. These conditions lasted until the beginning of the 19th century. The French Revolution created the Department of Jemappes, which in 1815 became the Province of Hainault, whose boundaries followed those of the Diocese of Tournai, after a concordat between the plenipotentiaries of Pius VI and the consular government of the republic. The Bishop of Tournai retained only two score of the parishes formerly under his jurisdiction, but he governed on the right bank of the Schelde a number of parishes which, prior to the Revolution, belonged to the Diocese of Cambrai (302), Namur (50), and Liège (50).
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 of the Roman Catholic church
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...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The diocese was formed in 1146, by the splitting of the diocese of Noyon and Tournai that had existed since the 7th century. It is now suffragan of the archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels.
History
The barbarian invasions began shortly afterwards. This lasted from the end of the 3rd century till the end of the 5th century. St. Remigius profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. He confided the Diocese of Arras and Cambrai to St. Vaast (Vedastus), and erected the See of Tournai (c. 500), appointing as its titular Eleutherius
Eleutherius of Tournai
Saint Eleutherius of Tournai is venerated as a saint and considered the first bishop of Tournai. The Catholic Encyclopedia writes that "historically there is very little known about St. Eleutherius, but he was without doubt the first Bishop of Tournai." Tradition makes him a lifelong friend of St...
.
It was probably its character of royal city which secured for Tournai this premature creation, but it soon lost its rank of capital by the departure of the Merovingian court. Nevertheless it kept its own bishops for nearly a century; then about 626 or 627, under the episcopate of St. Achar, the sees of Tournai and Noyon were united, retaining separate organizations. Tournai then lost the benefit of a privileged situation, and shared the condition of the neighbouring dioceses, such as Boulogne and Therouanne, Arras and Cambrai, where the same titular held both sees for five hundred years. It was only in 1146 that Tournai received its own bishop.
Among its bishops may be mentioned: St. Eleutherius (beginning of 6th century); St. Achar (626-27 — 1 March, 637-38); St. Eloi (641-60); Simon de Vermandois (1121–46); Walter de Marvis (1219–51), the great founder of schools and hospitals; Etienne of Tournai (1192–1203), godfather of Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
and minister of the queen; Andrea Chini Malpiglia (1334–42), cardinal and papal legate; Guillaume Fillastre
Guillaume Fillastre
Guillaume Fillastre was a French Cardinal, canonist, humanist, and geographer.-Life:...
(1460–73), chancellor of the Golden Fleece
Golden Fleece
In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece is the fleece of the gold-haired winged ram, which can be procured in Colchis. It figures in the tale of Jason and his band of Argonauts, who set out on a quest by order of King Pelias for the fleece in order to place Jason rightfully on the throne of Iolcus...
; Michel de Warenghien (1283–91), a very learned doctor; Michel d'Esne (1597–1614), the author of several works.
During the Spanish domination (1521–1667) the see continued to be occupied by natives of the country, but the capture of Tournai by Louis XIV in 1667 caused it to have as bishops a series of Frenchmen: Gilbert de choiseul duplessis praslin
Gilbert de Choiseul Duplessis Praslin
Gilbert Choiseul du Plessis-Praslin was a French bishop.-Early life:He was a descendant of the noble family of du Plessis. He devoted himself from his earliest youth to the ecclesiastical state, while his brother Cæsar Choiseul du Plessis-Praslin entered a military career. Both attained distinction...
(1670–89); François de La Salle de Caillebot (1692–1705); Louis Marcel de Coëtlogon (1705–07); François de Beauveau (1708–13). After the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
(1713) the French were replaced by Germans: Johann Ernst, Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim
Löwenstein-Wertheim
Löwenstein-Wertheim was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, part of the Franconian Circle. It was formed from the counties of Löwenstein and Wertheim ....
(1713–31); Franz Ernst, Count of Salm-Reifferscheid (1731–1770); Wilhelm Florentine, Prince of Salm-Salm
Salm-Salm
The Principality of Salm-Salm was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was located in the present-day French départements of the Bas-Rhin and the Vosges and was one of a number of partitions of Salm.-History:...
(1776–94).
The union of the see with Noyon and the removal thither of the seat of the bishopric had favoured the growth of the power of the chapter. The privilege possessed by the chapter under the old régime of being composed only of nobles and scholars necessarily attracted to it the most distinguished for birth and learning. Illustrious names of France and Belgium are inscribed in the registers of the archives or on the tombstones of the cathedral. The cathedral, 439 feet (133.8 m) long by 216 feet (65.8 m) wide, is surmounted by 5 towers 273 feet (83.2 m) high. The nave and transept are Romanesque (12th century), and the choir is primary Gothic, begun in 1242 and finished in 1325. Originally the boundaries of the diocese must have been those of the Civitas Turnacensium mentioned in the "Notice des Gaules". The prescriptions of councils and the interest of the Church both favoured these boundaries, and they were retained throughout the Middle Ages. The diocese then extended along the left bank of the Schelde from the Scarpe to the North Sea, with the exception of the Vier-Ambachten (Hulst, Axel, Bouchaute, and Assenede), which seem to have always belonged to the Diocese of Utrecht. The Schelde thus formed the boundary between the Dioceses of Tournai and Cambrai, cutting in two the towns of Termonde, Ghent, Oudenarde, and Tournai itself. The shore of the North Sea between the Schelde and the Yser was wholly included within the perimeter. On the other side of the Yser was the Diocese of Thérouanne, which bordered Tournai as far as Ypres. There began the Diocese of Arras, which bordered Tournai as far as the confluence of the Scarpe and the Schelde at Mortgne, France. This vast diocese was long divided into three archdeaneries and twelve deaneries. The archdeanery of Bruges comprised the deaneries of Bruges, Ardenbourg, and Oudenbourg; the archdeanery of Ghent, the deaneries of Ghent, Roulers, Oudenarde, and Waes; the archdeanery of Tournai, the deaneries of Tournai, Seclin, Helchin, Lille, and Courtrai.
In 1559 in order to wage more successful war against Protestantism, King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
obtained from Paul IV the erection of a series of new dioceses. The ancient Diocese of Tournai was divided, nearly two-thirds of its territory being taken away. The outlines of the archdeaneries of Bruges and Ghent formed the new diocese of Bruges and diocese of Ghent, and six parishes passed to the new diocese of Ypres
Diocese of Ypres
The former Roman Catholic Diocese of Ypres, in present-day Belgium, existed from 1559 to 1801. Its seat was Saint Martin's Cathedral in Ypres.-History:...
. These conditions lasted until the beginning of the 19th century. The French Revolution created the Department of Jemappes, which in 1815 became the Province of Hainault, whose boundaries followed those of the Diocese of Tournai, after a concordat between the plenipotentiaries of Pius VI and the consular government of the republic. The Bishop of Tournai retained only two score of the parishes formerly under his jurisdiction, but he governed on the right bank of the Schelde a number of parishes which, prior to the Revolution, belonged to the Diocese of Cambrai (302), Namur (50), and Liège (50).
To 1146
- 540 : St. Eleutherius of TournaiEleutherius of TournaiSaint Eleutherius of Tournai is venerated as a saint and considered the first bishop of Tournai. The Catholic Encyclopedia writes that "historically there is very little known about St. Eleutherius, but he was without doubt the first Bishop of Tournai." Tradition makes him a lifelong friend of St...
(Eleuthere) - c. 549 and 552 : Agrecius
- 545 : MedardusMedardusSaint Medardus was the Bishop of Vermandois who removed the seat of the diocese to Noyon....
- Then jointly with Noyon
- ca. 626–ca. 638 : Acarius
- 641–660 : EligiusSaint EligiusSaint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them...
- ca. 661–ca. 686 : Mummolenus
- Gondoin
- ca. 700 : Antgaire
- ca. 715 : Chrasmar
- ca. 721 : Garoul
- ca. 723 : Framenger
- ca. 730 : Hunuan
- ca. 740 : Gui et Eunuce
- ca. 748 : Elisée
- ca. 756/765 : Adelfred
- ? : Didon
- 769–ca. 782 : Giselbert
- ca. 798/799 : Pleon
- ca. 815 : Wendelmarus
- ca. 830/838 : Ronegaire
- ca. 830/838 : Fichard
- 840–860 : Immon
- 860–879 : Rainelme
- 880–902 : Heidilon
- 909 : Rambert
- 915–932 : Airard
- 936 - †936 : Walbert
- 937–950 : Transmar, Transmarus
- 950–954 : Rudolf
- 954–955 : Fulcher
- 955–977 : Hadulphe
- 977–988 : Liudolf of Vermandois
- 989–997 : Radbod I
- 1000–1030 : Hardouin
- 1030–1044 : Hugo
- 1044–1068 : Balduin
- 1068–1098 : Radbod II
- 1098–1113 : Baudry
- 1114–1123 : Lambert
- 1123–1146 : Simon of VermandoisSimon of VermandoisSimon of Vermandois was a French nobleman and bishop.He was a son of Hugh I of Vermandois. Elected bishop of Noyon in 1123, he was excommunicated in 1142 by Pope Innocent II, for divorcing his brother Raoul I, Count of Vermandois from Eléonore of Blois...
- Diocese split
1146 to 1500; bishops of Tournai
- 1146–1149 : Anselm
- 1149–1166 : Gerard
- 1166–1171 : Walter
- 1173–1190 : Everard
- 1193–1203 : Stephan
- 1203–1218 : Gossuin
- 1219–1251 : Walter of Marvis
- 1252–1261 : Walter of Croix
- 1261–1266 : Johann I. Buchiau
- 1267–1274 : Johann II. d'Enghien
- 1275–1282 : Philipp Mus
- 1283–1291 : Michael von Warenghien
- 1292–1300 : Johann III. von Vassogne
- 1301–1324 : Guy of BoulogneGuy of BoulogneGuy of Boulogne was a statesman and a churchman, serving the Avignon Papacy for 33 years. He participated in the papal conclaves of 1352, 1362 and 1370, and was the Subdean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. His diplomatic postings were extensive...
(also Bishop of Cambrai) - 1324–1326 : Elie de Ventadour
- 1326–1333 : Guillaume de Ventadour
- 1333 : Theobald of Saussoire
- 1334–1342 : André Ghini
- 1342–1349 : Jean IV. des PrésJean IV. des PrésJean des Prés was Bishop of Tournai from 1342 until his death.- Mass of Tournai :In 1349 Jean des Prés established a daily sung Mass which called for six trained singers...
- 1349–1350 : Pierre de Forest (also Bishop of Paris)
- 1351–1377 : Pierre d'Arbois
- 1379–1388 : Pierre d'Auxy
- 1380–1384 : Jean de West
- 1388–1410 : Louis de la Trémouille
- 1410–1433 : Jean de Thoisy
- 1433–1437 : Jean d'Harcourt
- 1437–1460 : Jean Chevrot
- 1460–1473 : Guillaume FillastreGuillaume FillastreGuillaume Fillastre was a French Cardinal, canonist, humanist, and geographer.-Life:...
- 1474–1483 : Ferry de ClugnyFerry de ClugnyFerry de Clugny, Cardinal and Bishop of Tournai was a highly-placed statesman and ecclesiastic in the service of the Dukes of Burgundy....
- 1483–1505 : Schism
1500 to 1800
- 1505–1513 : Charles de Hautbois
- 1514–1518 : Thomas Wolsey
- 1519-1521? : Josse van ClichtoveJosse van ClichtoveJosse van Clichtove , Belgian theologian, received his education at Leuven and at Paris under Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples....
- 1519–1524 : Louis Guillard, bishop elect, tutored by Clichtove
- 1524–1564 : Charles de CroÿCharles de CroÿCharles de Croÿ was a bishop of the See of Tournai in present-day Belgium from 1524 until 1564.Charles was born in 1506 as a member of the House of Croÿ. He was a nephew of William de Croÿ, Lord of Chièvres and a brother of William de Croÿ, Archbishop of Toledo . He matriculated at the University...
- 1564–1574 : Guibert D'Ongnies
- 1574–1580 : Pierre Pintaflour
- 1580–1586 : Max Morillon
- 1586–1592 : Jean VendevilleJean VendevilleJean Vendeville was a law professor and a bishop of Tournai.-Life:Vendeville was possibly born in Lille, the son of Guillaume Vendeville and Marie Des Barbieux. He went to school in Menin, and from the age of fifteen in Paris, where he studied law, beginning a legal practice in Arras...
(Jean Venduille) - 1592–1614 : Michel D'Esne
- 1614–1644 : Max Villain
- 1644–1660 : François Villain
- 1660–1689 : Gilbert de Choiseul
- 1689–1705 : François de Caillebot de La Salle
- 1705–1707 : Louis-Marcel de Coëtlogon-Méjusseaume
- 1707–1713 : René de Beauveau (then Bishop of Toulouse)
- 1713–1731 : Johann Ernst von Löwenstein-Wertheim
- 1731–1770 : Franz Ernst von Salm-Reifferscheid
- 1770–1776 : Vacant
- 1776–1793 : Wilhelm Florentin von Salm-Salm (then Archbishop of PragueArchbishop of PragueThe following is a list of bishops and archbishops of Prague. The bishopric of Prague was established in 973, and elevated to an archbishopric on 30 April 1344. The today's Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Prague is the continual successor of the bishoprie established in 973...
) - 1793–1802 : Vacant
From 1800
- 1802–1819 : François-Joseph Hirn
- 1819–1829 : Vacant
- 1829–1834 : Jean-Joseph Delplanque
- 1834–1877 : Gaspart-Joseph Labis
- 1877–1881 : Edmond Dumont
- 1881–1897 : Isidore-Joseph-Victor du Rousseaux
- 1897–1915 : Carolus Gustavus Walravens
- 1915–1924 : Amédée Crooy
- 1924–1939 : Gaston-Antoine Rasneur
- 1940–1945 : Luigi Delmotte
- 1945–1948 : Etienne Carton de Wiart
- 1948–1977 : Charles-Marie Himmer
- 1977–2002 : Jean Huard
- 2003–present : Guy HarpignyGuy HarpignyGuy Harpigny is a Belgian Bishop of the Catholic Church.He was ordained to the priesthood on July 7, 1973. On May 22, 2003, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Tournai by Pope John Paul II and ordained bishop on September 7, 2003....