Vicar Apostolic of the London District

The Vicar Apostolic of the London District was the title given to 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....

who headed an ecclesiastical jurisdiction 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 England, the Vicariate Apostolic

Apostolic vicariate

An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...

of the London District, from 1688 to 1850.

Background

Soon after the accession of Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...

, the bishops of England were forced to choose between taking the Oath of Supremacy

Oath of Supremacy

The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...

, thus denying the authority of the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

, and losing their episcopal see

Episcopal See

An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...

s. Those who chose to continue their allegiance to Rome were subsequently deposed and replaced in their sees by priests of the Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

. Most of the deposed Bishops were imprisoned in various locations and died in captivity over a period of years, though some left the country and continued their work overseas. The last of the deposed bishops was Thomas Goldwell

Thomas Goldwell

Thomas Goldwell was an English bishop, the last of those who had refused to accept the English Reformation.-Life:He began his career as rector of Cheriton in 1532, after graduating BA and then MA at All Souls College, Oxford.He became chaplain to Cardinal Pole and lived with him at Rome, was...

, Bishop of St Asaph

Bishop of St Asaph

The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph.The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St Asaph in the town of...

, who died in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

on April 3, 1585.

Vicar Apostolic of England

In 1623, after 65 years of formal absence from England, the Pope Urban VIII

Pope Urban VIII

Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...

, decided once again to appoint a bishop with actual jurisdiction in England. His choice fell upon William Bishop, who was given the title of Vicar Apostolic of England. Bishop landed secretly in England at midnight on 31 July 1623, but was to die only nine months later.

Bishop was succeeded in office by Richard Smith

Father Richard Smith

Richard Smith , , was the second Bishop over England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559. He followed Father William Bishop who died in 1624.-Early life:Richard Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England...

, also ordained a bishop, who arrived in England in April 1625. However, two warrants were issued for Smith's arrest in August 1631, and he was forced to resign and flee to France, where he eventually died in Paris in 1655. After 1631, there was no Roman Catholic bishop in England for another 54 years, and the void was to some extent filled by a dean

Dean (religion)

A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...

and chapter

Chapter (religion)

Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....

of rather unsure legal status, first established by Bishop and confirmed by Smith.

It was only in 1685 that a successor was appointed by Rome, in the person of John Leyburn

John Leyburn

John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...

, a Doctor of Divinity

Doctor of Divinity

Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....

of the Sorbonne

Sorbonne

The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...

and a former President of the English College at Douai

English College, Douai

The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...

, who was consecrated bishop in Rome on 9 September 1685. In 1623, Bishop had divided England into six areas, at the head of each of which he placed a superior

Superior (hierarchy)

In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...

with the title of 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...

, and this had remained the system thereafter. Leyburn reduced these six areas to four. In the summer of 1687 he toured the North of England and confirmed over 20,000 Catholics there.

Vicar Apostolic of the London District

On 20 January 1688, the number of bishops in England was increased by the Pope to four vicars apostolic, as a result of which at the same time the territory of the former single vicariate apostolic was reduced, being centred still on London, with the title of Vicariate Apostolic of the London District. The first such Vicar Apostolic, from 30 January 1688, was Bishop John Leyburn

John Leyburn

, who had previously since 24 August 1685 served as Vicar Apostolic of All England and Wales.

Although the vicariates as a whole were later more finely divided over the years, and notwithstanding intermittent persecution, a Vicariate Apostolic of the London District continued in existence until on 29 September 1850 Pope Pius IX issued the bull

Papal bull

A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....

Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae is the incipit of the papal bull of 29 September 1850 by which Pope Pius IX recreated the Roman Catholic diocesan hierarchy in England, which had been extinguished with the death of the last Marian bishop in the reign of Elizabeth I. New names were given to the dioceses, as...

, by which thirteen new dioceses were created, among them the Archdiocese of Westminster, a new jurisdiction which formally replaced the previous vicariate.

The last Vicar Apostolic of the London District was Bishop Nicholas Wiseman (d. 1865), who on 29 September 1850 was assigned the title of Metropolitan Archbishop of Westminster

Archbishop of Westminster

The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman...

. The following day he was created a cardinal

Cardinal (Catholicism)

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...

List of Vicars Apostolic

Vicars Apostolic Apostolic vicariate An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more... of England
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1623	1624	William Bishop, Titular Bishop of Chalcedon	Formerly 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.... 1581–1623. Appointed vicar apostolic on 15 March 1623 and ordained 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.... titular bishop Titular bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place... on 4 June 1624. Died in office on 13 April 1624.
1624	1632	Richard Smith Father Richard Smith Richard Smith , , was the second Bishop over England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559. He followed Father William Bishop who died in 1624.-Early life:Richard Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England... , Titular Bishop of Chalcedon	Formerly priest 1582–1632. Appointed vicar apostolic on 29 November 1624 and ordained titular bishop on 12 June 1625. Resigned in 1632 and died on 18 March 1655.
1632	1685	Vacant
1685	1688	John Leyburn John Leyburn John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the... , Titular Bishop of Hadrumetum	Appointed vicar apostolic on 24 August 1685 and ordained titular bishop on 9 September 1685. Became Vicar Apostolic of the London District on 30 January 1688.
In 1688, England was divided into four vicariates apostolic – the London, Midland Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to... , Northern, and Western districts.
Vicars Apostolic Apostolic vicariate An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more... of the London District
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1688	1702	John Leyburn John Leyburn John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the... , Titular Bishop of Hadrumetum	Hitherto Vicar Apostolic of England 1685–1688. Appointed vicar apostolic on 30 January 1688. Died in office on 9 June 1702.
1703	1734	Bonaventure Giffard Bonaventure Giffard Bonaventure Giffard was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District of England from 1687 to 1703 and Vicar Apostolic of the London District of England from 1703 to 1734.-Life:... , Titular Bishop of Madaurus	Previously Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to... 1687–1703. Appointed vicar apostolic on 14 March 1703. Died in office on 12 March 1734.
1734	1758	Benjamin Petre Benjamin Petre Benjamin Petre was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1734.-Life:He was born 10 August 1672, the son of John Petre of Fidlers or Fithlers, Essex , by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Pincheon of Writtle... , O.S.B., Titular Bishop of Prusa	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 23 June 1721 and ordained titular bishop on 11 November 1721. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 12 March 1734. Died in office on 22 December 1758.
1758	1781	Richard Challoner Richard Challoner Richard Challoner was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. He is perhaps most famous for his revision of the Douay Rheims translation of the Bible.-Early life:Challoner was born in the Protestant town of Lewes,... , Titular Bishop of Doberus	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 12 September 1739 and ordained titular bishop on 29 January 1741. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 22 September 1758. Died in office on 12 January 1781.
1781	1790	James Robert Talbot, Titular Bishop of Birtha	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 10 March 1759 and ordained titular bishop on 24 August 1759. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 12 January 1781. Died in office on 26 January 1790.
1790	1812	John Douglass John Douglass (bishop) John Douglass was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1790.-Life:He was born at Yarum, Yorkshire, in December 1743, and was sent at the age of thirteen to the English College, Douai. There he took the college oath in 1764, and defended universal divinity... , Titular Bishop of Centuria	Appointed vicar apostolic on 10 September 1790 and ordained titular bishop on 19 December 1790. Died in office on 8 May 1812.
1812	1827	William Poynter William Poynter William Poynter was an English Catholic priest, bishop as vicar apostolic in London.-Life:He was educated at the English College at Douai, where he was ordained in 1786... , Titular Bishop of Alia	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 6 Mar 1803 and ordained titular bishop on 29 May 1803. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 8 May 1812. Died in office on 26 November 1827.
1827	1836	James Yorke Bramston James Yorke Bramston James Yorke Bramston was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1827 until his death in 1836.... , Titular Bishop of Usula	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 4 February 1823 and ordained titular bishop on 29 June 1823. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 26 November 1827. Died in office on 11 July 1836.
1836	1847	Thomas Griffiths Thomas Griffiths (bishop) Thomas Griffiths was an English Roman Catholic bishop.-Life:He was the first and only Vicar Apostolic of the London District educated wholly in England. At the age of thirteen he was sent to St. Edmund's College, Old Hall, where he went through the whole course, and was ordained priest in 1814... , Titular Bishop of Olena	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 30 July 1833 and ordained titular bishop on 28 October 1833. Succeeded vicar apostolic on 11 July 1836. Died in office on 12 August 1847.
1848	1849	Thomas Walsh Thomas Walsh (UK bishop) Bishop Thomas Walsh was a Roman Catholic clergyman and Vicar Apostolic who served the Midlands area of the United Kingdom. He was born in London on 3 October 1776, and ordained priest on 19 September 1801... , Titular Bishop of Cambysopolis Cambysopolis Cambysopolis is the non-classical name of a Roman Catholic titular bishopric in the former Roman province of Asia Minor. The name is owing to a mistake of some medieval geographer.-Ancient and ecclesiastical history:...	Previously Vicar Apostolic of the Central District 1840–1848. Appointed vicar apostolic on 17 July 1848. Died in office on 18 February 1849.
1849	1850	Nicholas Wiseman, Titular Bishop of Milopotamus	Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic on 29 August 1847 and succeeded vicar apostolic on 18 February 1849. Became the first Archbishop of Westminster Archbishop of Westminster The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman... when the district was elevated to an archdiocese on 29 September 1850.
In 1850, the London District elevated to the Archdiocese of Westminster Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in England. The archdiocese consists of all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, together with the towns southwest of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames and... when the hierarchy in England and Wales Universalis Ecclesiae Universalis Ecclesiae is the incipit of the papal bull of 29 September 1850 by which Pope Pius IX recreated the Roman Catholic diocesan hierarchy in England, which had been extinguished with the death of the last Marian bishop in the reign of Elizabeth I. New names were given to the dioceses, as... was re-established.

Sources

Basil Hemphill, The Early Vicars Apostolic of England 1685-1750, Burns & Oates, London, 1953.
Godfrey Anstruther, The Seminary Priests, St Edmund's College, Ware / Ushaw College, Durham, vol. 1, pp. 321–322.
Godfrey Anstruther, The Seminary Priests, St Edmund's College, Ware / Ushaw College, Durham, vol. 2, pp. 193, 195-200.

Background

Vicar Apostolic of England

Vicar Apostolic of the London District

List of Vicars Apostolic

Sources

See also