Philip Norris (–1465), was born in Dundalk , and graduated from

University College, Oxford University College, formally The Master and Fellows of the College of the Great Hall of the University commonly called University College in the University of Oxford and colloquially referred to as "Univ", is a Colleges of the University of Oxf ...

, of which he was briefly Principal. He was

Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin The Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral is the senior cleric of the Protestant St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, elected by the chapter of the cathedral. The office was created in 1219 or 1220, by one of several charters granted to the cathedral by A ...

from 1457 until 1465, having previously been

Prebendary A prebendary is a member of the Catholic Church, Catholic or Anglicanism , Anglican clergy, a form of canon (priest) , canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in part ...

of Yagoe within the cathedral. He began his clerical career as

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...

of St Nicholas, Dundalk, where he was largely an absentee pastor."Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 2" Cotton, H. p139 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848-1878 He was a famously eloquent preacher ("a resounding trumpet of sacred eloquence"), and a fine scholar.Walsh, Katherine "Norris, Philip" ''Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography'' However he was also a notably controversial figure, due to his repeated attacks on the Orders of

mendicant friars Mendicant orders are primarily certain Catholic religious orders that have vowed for their male members a lifestyle of poverty, traveling, and living in urban areas for purposes of preaching, evangelization, and ministry, especially to less w ...

, which began when he was at Oxford. In particular, he denied the friars' right to exercise priestly authority or to hear

confession A confession is a statement – made by a person or by a group of people – acknowledging some personal fact that the person (or the group) would ostensibly prefer to keep hidden. The term presumes that the speaker is providing information that ...

. This was a long-standing controversy, on which other Irish clerics like Archbishop Fitzralph also had strong views. His attacks became so vehement that at the request of the mendicant Orders, who accused him of

heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. Heresy in Heresy in Christian ...

, Pope

Eugenius IV Pope Eugene IV (; ; 1383 – 23 February 1447), born Gabriele Condulmer, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 March 1431 to his death, in February 1447. Condulmer was a Venetian, and a nephew of Pope Gregory XII ...

in 1440

excommunicated Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in communion with other members of the con ...

Norris. Norris fought vigorously to clear his name, and in 1443 he succeeded in having the sentence of excommunication reversed. The Orders were enjoined not to worry Norris in future, and if they had concerns about his

orthodoxy Orthodoxy () is adherence to a purported "correct" or otherwise mainstream- or classically-accepted creed, especially in religion. Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical co ...

, to engage in debate with him. His position was no doubt strengthened by the fact that the

Archbishop of Armagh The Archbishop of Armagh is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from the Episcopal see, see city of Armagh in Northern Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic success ...

Richard Fitzralph Richard FitzRalph (also Fitz Ralph; c. 1300 – 16 December 1360) was a scholastic philosopher, theologian, and Norman Irish Archbishop of Armagh during the 14th century. His thought exerted a significant influence on John Wycliffe's. Life Fit ...

, held similar views which if possible he expressed even more vehemently. Norris' last years seem to have been tranquil enough, though he had chronic ill health. He received a number of further

benefices A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

, including Prebendary of

Mulhuddart Mulhuddart () is an outer suburb situated 12 km (7.456 miles) north-west of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The River Tolka passes near the village. Mulhuddart is also a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish in the Barony (Irelan ...

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

, and the wealthy living of St Patrick's Church, Trim,

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

(now Trim Cathedral).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, Philip Deans of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 15th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests 1400s births 1465 deaths Alumni of University College, Oxford People from Dundalk Christian clergy from County Louth Year of birth uncertain