The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is a

Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Jo ...

diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associ ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

, centred on St Mary's Cathedral in the city of

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

in England. The diocese is one of the six suffragan sees in the ecclesiastical Province of

Liverpool Liverpool is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the List of English districts by population, 10th largest English district by population and its E ...

and covers the historic boundaries of County Durham and Northumberland.

History

The Diocese of Hexham was revived in 1850 by decree of

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

, restoring the Catholic hierarchy to

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is En ...

. Although the ancient See of Hexham was founded in 678 it had later lapsed. Together with the See of

Lindisfarne Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important ...

, founded by

Saint Aidan Aidan of Lindisfarne ( ga, Naomh Aodhán; died 31 August 651) was an Irish monk and missionary credited with converting the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity in Northumbria. He founded a monastic cathedral on the island of Lindisfarne, known as Lindis ...

, 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 and, later,

Acca of Hexham Acca of Hexham ( 660 – 740/742) was an early medieval Northumbrian prelate, serving as bishop of Hexham from 709 until 732, and subsequently commemorated as a Christian saint. Life Born in Northumbria, Acca first served in the household of B ...

. The modern diocese was expanded to include the title of Newcastle in 1861. Originally under the metropolitan See of Westminster, the diocese 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,

, designed by

Augustus Welby Pugin Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin ( ; 1 March 181214 September 1852) was an English architect, designer, artist and critic with French and, ultimately, Swiss origins. He is principally remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival st ...

, was selected as the seat for the new bishop, gaining cathedral status. In 1924,

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City f ...

withdrew the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland to incorporate them into a newly created

Diocese of Lancaster The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster is a Latin Church Roman Catholic diocese centred on Lancaster Cathedral in the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. History The diocese was erected in 1924, taking areas and parishes from the Archd ...

. For this reason, the Lancaster diocese still considers St Cuthbert as one of its principal patrons. Other territory was taken from the

Archdiocese of Liverpool The Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool ( la, Archidioecesis Liverpolitana) is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church that covers the Isle of Man and part of North West England. The episcopal see is Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The archdiocese ...

to form the new see.

Present

The modern Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle comprises the counties of

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land ...

, Tyne and Wear and

County Durham County Durham ( ), officially simply Durham,UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. is a ceremonial county in North East England.North East Assembly �About North East E ...

. In this respect, it comprises three cities: Newcastle upon Tyne,

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county * Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...

and

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...

. The diocesan

curia Curia (Latin plural curiae) in ancient Rome referred to one of the original groupings of the citizenry, eventually numbering 30, and later every Roman citizen was presumed to belong to one. While they originally likely had wider powers, they came ...

and chancery are officially based at Bishop's House, 26 West Avenue, Gosforth, in the north of Newcastle. However, the tribunal and other commissions are actually based at the curial offices at St Vincent's in St Cuthbert's House, West Road. The diocese was also home to the regional

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

for the north of England,

Ushaw College Ushaw College (formally St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw), is a former Catholic seminary near the village of Ushaw Moor, County Durham, England, which is now a heritage and cultural tourist attraction. The college is known for its Georgian and Vict ...

, near Durham. The seminary had strong links with the

University of Durham , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills ( Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_cha ...

which validated the degree courses offered there. The seminary was governed by the bishops of the Northern Province under the chairmanship of the

Archbishop of Liverpool The Archbishop of Liverpool is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool and metropolitan of the Province of Liverpool (also known as the Northern Province) in England. The archdiocese covers an area of of the west of the C ...

. However, as the local ordinary, the

Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province. History With the gradual abolition of the legal restricti ...

always held 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).

Current bishop

The See of Hexham and Newcastle is currently

sede vacante ''Sede vacante'' ( in Latin.) is a term for the state of a diocese while without a bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of the bishop's or Pope's authority upon his death or resignation. Hi ...

following Pope Francis' acceptance of the resignation of Robert Byrne in December of 2022. There are presently 214 diocesan priests (57 of whom are retired) and six permanent deacons serving 183 parishes. A number of religious orders are also present in the diocese, including the

Passionists The Passionists, officially named Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (), abbreviated CP, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men, founded by Paul of the Cross in 1720 with a special emphasis on and d ...

, the

Jesuits , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders = ...

, the

Carmelites , image = , caption = Coat of arms of the Carmelites , abbreviation = OCarm , formation = Late 12th century , founder = Early hermits of Mount Carmel , founding_location = Mount C ...

, the

Poor Clares The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare ( la, Ordo sanctae Clarae) – originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and later the Clarisses, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Order, and the Second Order of Saint Francis ...

and the

Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They a ...

. 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 the man who would ultimately be his successor, Canon Seamus Cunningham, as

vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop ...

. He also appointed a new chancellor for the curia and a new episcopal vicar for religious. Following the death of Bishop Dunn on 1 March 2008, the

College of Consultors A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e., a counselor. In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions: *in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired b ...

elected Canon

Seamus Cunningham Seamus may refer to: * Séamus, a male first name of Gaelic origin Film and television * Seamus (''Family Guy''), a character on the television series ''Family Guy'' * Seamus, a pigeon in '' Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore'' * Seamus Mc ...

as the Diocesan Administrator. On 9 January 2009 it was announced that

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...

had appointed him to be the new bishop of the diocese. He received his episcopal ordination on Friday, 20 March 2009 – the feast day of St. Cuthbert – the diocesan patron.

Bishops

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Northern District

See also Apostolic Vicariate of the Northern District (England). * James Smith (1688-1711) * George Witham (1716-1725) * Thomas Dominic Williams, O.P. (1725-1740) * Edward Dicconson (1740-1752) *

Francis Petre Francis William Petre (27 August 1847 – 10 December 1918), sometimes known as Frank Petre, was a New Zealand-born architect based in Dunedin. He was an able exponent of the Gothic revival style, one of its best practitioners in New Zea ...

(1752-1775) *

William Walton Sir William Turner Walton (29 March 19028 March 1983) was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera. His best-known works include ''Façade'', the cantat ...

(1775-1780) * Matthew Gibson (1780-1790) *

William Gibson William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as ''cyberpunk''. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, hi ...

(1790-1821) * Thomas Smith (1821-1831) *

Thomas Penswick Thomas Penswick (1772–1836) was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1831 to 1836. Born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire on 7 March 1772, he was ordained to the priesthood on ...

(1831-1836) * John Briggs (1836-1840), appointed Vicar Apostolic of Yorkshire District * Henry Weedall (1840), did not take effect * Francis George Mostyn (1840-1847) *

William Riddell William Riddell (1807–1847) was a Roman Catholic bishop who briefly served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England in 1847. Early life and ministry He was born at Felton Park, near Morpeth, Northumberland, England on 5 Fe ...

(1847) *

William Hogarth William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, pictorial satirist, social critic, editorial cartoonist and occasional writer on art. His work ranges from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like ...

(1848-1850); ''see below''

Bishop of Hexham

Bishops of Hexham and Newcastle

(1861-1866); ''see above'' *

John Chadwick John Chadwick, (21 May 1920 – 24 November 1998) was an English linguist and classical scholar who was most notable for the decipherment, with Michael Ventris, of Linear B. Early life, education and wartime service John Chadwick was born at ...

(1866-1882) * John William Bewick (1882-1886) * Henry O'Callaghan (1887-1889) * Thomas William Wilkinson (1889-1909) * Richard Collins (1909-1924) *

Joseph Thorman Joseph Thorman (6 August 1871 – 7 October 1936) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle from 1924 to 1936. Born in Gateshead, County Durham on 6 August 1871, he was ordained to the pr ...

(1924-1936) *

Joseph McCormack Joseph McCormack (1887–1958) was an English prelate who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle from 1936 to 1958. Born on 17 May 1887, he was ordained to the priesthood on 11 August 1912. He was appointed the Bishop of th ...

(1936-1958) * James Cunningham (1958-1974) * Hugh Lindsay (1974-1992) *

Michael Ambrose Griffiths Dom Ambrose Griffiths (4 December 1928 – 14 June 2011) was a Benedictine abbot before becoming a Roman Catholic bishop in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Biography Born Michael Griffiths in Twickenham, Middlesex, and educated at ...

, O.S.B. (1992-2004) *

Kevin John Dunn The Right Reverend Kevin John Dunn (9 July 1950 – 1 March 2008) was the twelfth Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. Early life Kevin John Dunn was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire on 9 July 1950 and educated at St Mary ...

(2004-2008), died in office * Séamus Cunningham (2009-2019) * Robert John Byrne, C.O. (2019-2022)

Coadjutor Vicars Apostolic

* John Briggs (1833-1836) * William Maire (1767-1769), died without succeeding to see *

(1824-1831) *

(1750-1752) *

(1843-1847) * Thomas Smith (1807-1821) *

(1770-1775)

Auxiliary Bishops

* Richard Collins (1905-1909), appointed Bishop here * James Cunningham (1957-1958), appointed Bishop here * Hugh Lindsay (1969-1974), appointed Bishop here * Richard Preston (1900-1904) * Owen Francis Swindlehurst (1977-1995), died in office * Thomas William Wilkinson (1888-1889), appointed Bishop here

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

George Hilary Brown George Hilary Brown (1784 – 1856) was an English prelate who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool from 1850 to 1856. Early life George Hilary Brown was born in Clifton, Lancashire on 15 January 1784, the son of William Br ...

, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Lancashire District in 1840 * George Crompton Ambrose Burton, appointed Bishop of Clifton in 1902 * Robert Cornthwaite, appointed Bishop of Beverley in 1861 * John Douglass, appointed Vicar Apostolic of London District in 1790 *

Charles Petre Eyre Charles Petre Eyre (1817–1902) was a Roman Catholic clergyman who was appointed the first Roman Catholic archbishop of Glasgow since the Scottish Reformation. He served as archbishop from 1878 to 1902. Family Born at Askham Bryan Hall, Askham ...

, appointed apostolic delegate and titular archbishop in 1868 * Robert Gradwell, appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of London District in 1828 * Bernard O'Reilly, appointed Bishop of Liverpool in 1873 *

James Sharples James Sharples (1751 or 1752, in Lancashire – 26 February 1811, in New York City) was an English portrait painter and pastelist, who moved to the United States in 1794. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1779. Life James was firs ...

, appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Lancashire District in 1843 *

Gregory Stapleton Gregory Stapleton D.D. (1748–23 May 1802) was an English Roman Catholic bishop. While president of St. Omer's English College, he and his students were imprisoned during the French Revolution. Life Born at Carlton, Yorkshire, he was seventh so ...

, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Midland District in 1800 * William Turner, appointed Bishop of Salford in 1851 *

Nicholas Wiseman Nicholas Patrick Stephen Wiseman (3 August 1802 – 15 February 1865) was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church who became the first Archbishop of Westminster upon the re-establishment of the Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales in 1850. Born ...

, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Midland District in 1840; future Cardinal * George Witham, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Midland District in 1702; later returned here as Vicar Apostolic

Notes and references

External links

Official diocesan websiteOfficial cathedral website
– St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Latin Mass Society in t Diocese of Hexham & NewcastleCatholic Church in England and Wales official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hexham and Newcastle Religious organisations based in England Religion in County Durham Religion in Northumberland Religion in Tyne and Wear Hexham and Newcastle Hexham and Newcastle 1850 establishments in England Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool