William Weathers
Encyclopedia
Bishop
William Weathers (b. November 12, 1814 - d. March 4, 1895, Isleworth
, Middlesex
, England
) was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Catholic Church in England and Wales as well the titular Bishop
of Amyela.
His parents were originally Protestants from Wales. He, his mother and siblings were converted to Roman Catholicism after his father's death. He was educated at the Franciscan school at Baddesley
(1823-28), and at Old Hall, where he remained for forty years, and held in turn every office. Before his ordination (1838) he was already a master (1835). He was prefect of discipline 1840- 43, vice-president and procurator 1843-51, prefect of studies for some years, and president 1851-68.
His presidency forms a memorable epoch in the history of the college and of Catholicism in southern England. The years succeeding the restoration of the Hierarchy saw a readjustment of standards.
With a view to invigorate the future secular clergy
, Archbishop Henry Edward Manning, also a convert to Roman Catholicism, albeit from Anglicanism
, thought it necessary that the control of the seminary should be in the hands of his newly-formed congregation, the Oblates of St. Charles. Under Manning's influence, Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman appointed a staff at St Edmund's College, Ware, who were neither desired nor welcomed by the president (1855-56). The result was an attempt to manage the college without the president's co-operation. The Westminster Chapter took up the matter, and, after an appeal to Rome, the Oblates were withdrawn in 1861.
Dr. Weathers' own appreciation of higher ideals is indicated by the remodelling of the college rules during his presidency, and by the invitation and firm support given to Dr. Ward, a convert and a layman, as lecturer in theology (1852-58). When Archbishop Manning removed the divines to Hammersmith
in 1869, he appointed Weathers rector of that seminary, which position Weathers held until the seminary was closed by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan in 1892. At his own choice, he then became chaplain to the Sisters of Nazareth at Isleworth.
He had been created D.D. in 1845, became a canon of Westminster in 1851, was named a domestic prelate to Pope Pius IX
in 1869, and was consecrated bishop, as auxiliary to Archbishop Manning, in 1872. In 1868 he went to Rome as representative theologian of the English bishops in the deliberations preparatory to the First Vatican Council
.
He published (under the name Amyclanus) An Enquiry into the Nature and Results of Electricity and Magnetism (1876).
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
William Weathers (b. November 12, 1814 - d. March 4, 1895, Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, 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...
) was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Catholic Church in England and Wales as well the 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...
of Amyela.
His parents were originally Protestants from Wales. He, his mother and siblings were converted to Roman Catholicism after his father's death. He was educated at the Franciscan school at Baddesley
North Baddesley
North Baddesley is a large village and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It is situated 3 miles east of the town of Romsey and 6 miles north of Southampton. It occupies an area of approximately 9.15 square kilometres, and is home to a population of just over 10,000 people. It is located in the...
(1823-28), and at Old Hall, where he remained for forty years, and held in turn every office. Before his ordination (1838) he was already a master (1835). He was prefect of discipline 1840- 43, vice-president and procurator 1843-51, prefect of studies for some years, and president 1851-68.
His presidency forms a memorable epoch in the history of the college and of Catholicism in southern England. The years succeeding the restoration of the Hierarchy saw a readjustment of standards.
With a view to invigorate the future secular clergy
Secular clergy
The term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or members of a religious order.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, the secular clergy are ministers, such as deacons and priests, who do not belong to a religious order...
, Archbishop Henry Edward Manning, also a convert to Roman Catholicism, albeit from Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, thought it necessary that the control of the seminary should be in the hands of his newly-formed congregation, the Oblates of St. Charles. Under Manning's influence, Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman appointed a staff at St Edmund's College, Ware, who were neither desired nor welcomed by the president (1855-56). The result was an attempt to manage the college without the president's co-operation. The Westminster Chapter took up the matter, and, after an appeal to Rome, the Oblates were withdrawn in 1861.
Dr. Weathers' own appreciation of higher ideals is indicated by the remodelling of the college rules during his presidency, and by the invitation and firm support given to Dr. Ward, a convert and a layman, as lecturer in theology (1852-58). When Archbishop Manning removed the divines to Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
in 1869, he appointed Weathers rector of that seminary, which position Weathers held until the seminary was closed by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan in 1892. At his own choice, he then became chaplain to the Sisters of Nazareth at Isleworth.
He had been created D.D. in 1845, became a canon of Westminster in 1851, was named a domestic prelate to Pope Pius IX
Pope 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...
in 1869, and was consecrated bishop, as auxiliary to Archbishop Manning, in 1872. In 1868 he went to Rome as representative theologian of the English bishops in the deliberations preparatory to the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
.
He published (under the name Amyclanus) An Enquiry into the Nature and Results of Electricity and Magnetism (1876).