Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (Dioecesis Hagulstadensis et Novacastrensis) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in England. The diocese is one of the six suffragan sees in the ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool and covers much of North-East England.
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[edit] History and Formation
The Diocese of Hexham was revived in 1850 by decree of Pope Pius IX, 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.
[edit] The Diocese Today
The modern Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle comprises the counties of Northumberland, 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).
[edit] Current Pastors
The See of Hexham and Newcastle is currently vacant, after the death on March 1, 2008 of Bishop Kevin Dunn, who succeeded Bishop Ambrose Griffiths on 25 May 2004.[1]
There are presently 214 diocesan priests (57 of whom are retired), 6 permanent deacons, and 2 bishops emeriti, 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 Canon Seamus Cunningham as Vicar General. He also appointed a new Chancellor for the Curia and a new Episcopal Vicar for Religious.
Bishop Dunn had been in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle since the beginning of February 2008, and died at 21:30 on Saturday 1 March 2008 aged 57. He was suffering from pneumonia, and was surrounded by his family when he passed away peacefully. Canon Cunningham administered the Prayers for the Dying, and Prayers for the Dead alongside Bishop Dunn's family.
The Diocesan College of Consultors met on March 2, 2008 following the death of Bishop Dunn on March 1, 2008. This is in accordance with Canons 165 – 178 and Canons 421 – 425 of the Code of Canon Law. At their meeting, the Consultors elected Canon Seamus Cunningham as the Diocesan Administrator. Canon Cunningham now assumes responsibility for the Administration of the Diocese in the absence of the Bishop until such time as the Holy Father appoints a successor to Bishop Kevin Dunn.
[edit] Present Bishop and Bishops Emeriti
- Bishop Kevin John Dunn 2004-1 March 2008.
- Bishop Ambrose Griffiths OSB 1992-2004
- Bishop Hugh Lindsay 1974-1992 (Auxiliary Bishop 1969-1974)
[edit] See also
- Basil Cardinal Hume - Cardinal Hume was a native son of Newcastle
- St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne - Diocesan Cathedral Church
- Diocese of Lancaster
- Bishop of Lindisfarne
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Notice of Death of Bishop Kevin Dunn. BBC News website. Retrieval Date: March 3, 2008.
[edit] 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
- "Hexham and Newcastle". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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Province of Westminster
Province of Birmingham
Province of Liverpool
Province of Southwark
Province of Cardiff
Other Dioceses
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