Thomas McMahon (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas McMahon is the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Brentwood
.
McMahon grew up in Harlow
and attended St. Bede’s Grammar School, Manchester
, before training for the priesthood at St. Sulpice, Paris
. He was ordained on 28 November 1959 at the seminary in Wonersh
.
He was appointed an assistant priest in Colchester
, where he served for five years. From 1964-1969 he was appointed to Westcliff-on-Sea
, and then became parish priest of Stock
(where he continues to live as parish priest). From 1972-1980 he served as Chaplain to Essex University. He was a member of the National Ecumenical Commission.
On 17 July 1980 Cardinal Basil Hume, OSB
, consecrated him Bishop of Brentwood
. He has been a member of I.C.E.L. (representing the Bishops of England and Wales on the Episcopal Board) since 1983. He was Chairman of the Bishops' Pastoral Liturgy Committee from 1983 to 1997, and has been Chairman of the Bishops' Church Music Committee since 1985.
Brentwood has five ecumenical parishes where there is shared ownership of the church between the denominations; two shared primary schools and there is also a joint pilgrimage each year to Bradwell
. Bishop McMahon was Chairman of the Essex Church Leaders Consultative Council from 1984 to 1993, and he is a member of the Barking Church Leaders Group and the London Church Leaders Group.
Bishop McMahon is Patron of a number of groups and organisations, notably Vice-President of Pax Christi
since 1987. He was a founder member of the Movement for Christian Democracy and together with Lord Alton visited refugee camps and homes in Albania
in September 1999.
Bishop McMahon takes special interest in all areas of pastoral work. He has been involved with various developments in the diocese, including the establishment of the Justice and Peace Commission; Social Welfare Commission; Youth Commission and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre at New Hall and the Diocesan House of Prayer at Brentwood.
There have also been various programmes in the diocese, such as the Diocesan Renewal Programme, the Movement for a Better World (1982); the Ministry to Priests Programme (1984); and a 10 year pastoral plan for the diocese leading up to the year 2000.
He was responsible for the building of the diocesan offices ‘Cathedral House’ in Brentwood (1982), followed by the building of a new Cathedral
in 1989 by the classical architect, Quinlan Terry
. It is the first cathedral to be built in the classical style since St. Paul’s. The Bishop has also founded a Cathedral and Choral Trust and extended the Choir School (2000).
Since his consecration as Bishop of Brentwood in 1980, the Catholic population of the Diocese has increased steadily, while the number of priests has remained approximately stable, leading to a decline in the ratio of priests to people comparable with that occurring elsewhere in the Western world over the same period. In August 2011, according to the Diocesan website, there were seven students in training for the priesthood.
was recognised when in 1991 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate
of the University of Essex
and in 1992 elected President of the Essex Show. He is a member of the Court of both the University of Essex and the North East London University.
His personal hobbies and interests include music, reading, art, architecture, tennis and walking. Mayhew McCrimmon have published two of his books: The Mass Explained and Altar Servers’ Handbook.
Bishop of Brentwood
The Bishop of Brentwood is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood in the Province of Westminster, England.-Overview:The diocese covers the historic county of Essex, an area of comprising the non-metropolitan county of Essex, the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock,...
.
Life
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....
McMahon grew up in Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and attended St. Bede’s Grammar School, Manchester
St Bede's College, Manchester
St Bede's College, Manchester is an independent Roman Catholic day school situated on Alexandra Road South in the Whalley Range area of the city, and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
, before training for the priesthood at St. Sulpice, Paris
Saint-Sulpice (Paris)
Saint-Sulpice is a Roman Catholic church in Paris, France, on the east side of the Place Saint-Sulpice, in the Luxembourg Quarter of the VIe arrondissement. At 113 metres long, 58 metres in width and 34 metres tall, it is only slightly smaller than Notre-Dame and thus the second largest church in...
. He was ordained on 28 November 1959 at the seminary in Wonersh
Wonersh
Wonersh is a small Surrey village in England. Wonersh is about 3 miles SSE of Guildford on the B2128 road from Guildford, Shalford to Cranleigh...
.
He was appointed an assistant priest in Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, where he served for five years. From 1964-1969 he was appointed to Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of Southend-on-Sea, a seaside resort in the East of England and unitary authority in Essex. It is situated on the northern bank of the Thames Estuary and about 34 miles east of London.-Geography:...
, and then became parish priest of Stock
Stock, Essex
Stock is a village and civil parish in south Essex, England. It is located approximately south of the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the borough of Chelmsford and in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon.-Facilities:...
(where he continues to live as parish priest). From 1972-1980 he served as Chaplain to Essex University. He was a member of the National Ecumenical Commission.
On 17 July 1980 Cardinal Basil Hume, OSB
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, consecrated him Bishop of Brentwood
Bishop of Brentwood
The Bishop of Brentwood is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood in the Province of Westminster, England.-Overview:The diocese covers the historic county of Essex, an area of comprising the non-metropolitan county of Essex, the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock,...
. He has been a member of I.C.E.L. (representing the Bishops of England and Wales on the Episcopal Board) since 1983. He was Chairman of the Bishops' Pastoral Liturgy Committee from 1983 to 1997, and has been Chairman of the Bishops' Church Music Committee since 1985.
Work in the Diocese
He was Chairman of the Brentwood Diocesan Ecumenical Commission in 1979. Brentwood is the only diocese in the country with boundaries that are co-terminous to the Anglican Diocese and there is very close co-operation on both a personal and pastoral level between the two Bishops. They meet every month in the early morning for an hour’s prayer, followed by a working breakfast. They undertake many joint engagements in their dioceses.Brentwood has five ecumenical parishes where there is shared ownership of the church between the denominations; two shared primary schools and there is also a joint pilgrimage each year to Bradwell
Bradwell
-People with surname Bradwell:*Tom Driberg, Baron Bradwell , British journalist and politician*Chris Bradwell , US athlete*James B. Bradwell , US lawyer and judge*Mike Bradwell , Canadian athlete...
. Bishop McMahon was Chairman of the Essex Church Leaders Consultative Council from 1984 to 1993, and he is a member of the Barking Church Leaders Group and the London Church Leaders Group.
Bishop McMahon is Patron of a number of groups and organisations, notably Vice-President of Pax Christi
Pax Christi
-History:Pax Christi was established in France in 1945 as a reconciliation work between the French and the Germans after the Second World War. In 2007, it existed in more than 60 countries...
since 1987. He was a founder member of the Movement for Christian Democracy and together with Lord Alton visited refugee camps and homes in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in September 1999.
Bishop McMahon takes special interest in all areas of pastoral work. He has been involved with various developments in the diocese, including the establishment of the Justice and Peace Commission; Social Welfare Commission; Youth Commission and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre at New Hall and the Diocesan House of Prayer at Brentwood.
There have also been various programmes in the diocese, such as the Diocesan Renewal Programme, the Movement for a Better World (1982); the Ministry to Priests Programme (1984); and a 10 year pastoral plan for the diocese leading up to the year 2000.
He was responsible for the building of the diocesan offices ‘Cathedral House’ in Brentwood (1982), followed by the building of a new Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in 1989 by the classical architect, Quinlan Terry
Quinlan Terry
Quinlan Terry is a British architect. He was educated at Bryanston School and the Architectural Association. He was a pupil of architect Raymond Erith, with whom he formed the partnership Erith & Terry....
. It is the first cathedral to be built in the classical style since St. Paul’s. The Bishop has also founded a Cathedral and Choral Trust and extended the Choir School (2000).
Since his consecration as Bishop of Brentwood in 1980, the Catholic population of the Diocese has increased steadily, while the number of priests has remained approximately stable, leading to a decline in the ratio of priests to people comparable with that occurring elsewhere in the Western world over the same period. In August 2011, according to the Diocesan website, there were seven students in training for the priesthood.
Recognition
The Bishop's wide involvement in the life of the County of EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
was recognised when in 1991 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
and in 1992 elected President of the Essex Show. He is a member of the Court of both the University of Essex and the North East London University.
His personal hobbies and interests include music, reading, art, architecture, tennis and walking. Mayhew McCrimmon have published two of his books: The Mass Explained and Altar Servers’ Handbook.