- Bishop of Derry
-
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
Contents
History
The bishopric has its origin in the Columba abbey of Derry, founded by the abbots of Iona in the sixth century. By the High Middle Ages, the monastery of Derry was one of the chief monasteries of the Columban familia and its abbots often bore the title Comarbai Coluim Cille, successor of Saint Columba.
The episcopal diocese emerged from the reorganisation of the Irish church in the twelfth century. The see was founded to cover the lands of the Cenél nEógain (i.e. Tyrone). It was fixed first at Ardstraw, then at Maghera (Machaire Rátha Lúraigh - the plain of Lurach's fort).[1][2] The Irish annalists commonly styled the bishops of this area 'bishop of Cenél nEógain'.[2] Bishop Germanus, called in Irish Gilla in Choimded Ó Cerballáin, obtained sanction from Pope Innocent IV for the see to be transferred to Derry in 1254.[1]
Following the Reformation, there are parallel apostolic successions. In the Church of Ireland, Derry continued a separate see until 1834 when it amalgamated with Raphoe and became the united bishopric of Derry and Raphoe.[3]
In the Roman Catholic Church, the title is still a separate bishopric. The current incumbent is The Most Rev. Dr. Séamus Hegarty, D.D., Lord Bishop of Derry, who was appointed on 1 October 1994.[4]
Pre-Reformation bishops
- Bishops of the diocese of Cinél nEógain
List of Bishops of the diocese of Cinél nEógain [5] From Until Incumbent Notes 1107 1122 Máel Coluim Ua Brolcháin [A] Styled "bishop of Ard Macha" (Armagh) in the Annals of Ulster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain; consecrated 13 September 1107; died at Derry in 1122 unknown 1139 Máel Brigte Ua Brolcháin [B] Styled "bishop of Ard Macha" (Armagh) in the Annals of Ulster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain; died 29 January 1139 unknown 1149 Ua Gormgaile Died in office bef.1152 1173 Muiredach Ua Cobthaig Styled "bishop of Cenel-Eogain and of all the North of Ireland" in the Annals of Ulster; present at the Synod of Kells in March 1152; died 10 February 1173; also known as Mauricius unknown 1185 Amlaím Ua Muirethaig Styled "bishop of Ard-Macha and Cenel-Feradhaigh" in the Annals of Ulster and appears to be reckoned as coarb of Saint Patrick in the Book of Leinster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain; died at Cenél Feradaig Cruthnai in 1185; buried at Derry 1185 1230 Fogartach Ua Cerballáin I Died in office; also known as Florentius c.1230 1254 Gilla in Choimded Ó Cerbailláin, O.P. Elected circa 1230; transferred the seat to Derry in 1254; also known in latin as Germanus - Pre-Reformation Bishops of Derry
List of pre-Reformation Bishops of Derry [5] From Until Incumbent Notes 1254 1279 Gilla in Choimded Ó Cerbailláin, O.P. Transferred the seat from Ráith Lúraig (Maghera) in 1254; died in office; also known as Germanus 1280 1293 Fogartach Ua Cerballáin II Elected circa 1280; died before 24 July 1293; also known as Florentius 1293 1294 (Michael) Previously Treasurer of Derry; elected on 10 October 1293, and though granted possession of the see's temporalities on 8 February 1294, he was never consecrated 1294 1297 Énri Mac Airechtaig, O.Cist. Elected before 12 August 1294 and again before March 1294; gained possession of the temporalities 16 June 1295; died in office; also known as Henry O'Reghly or Henry of Ardagh 1297 c.1315 Gofraid Mac Lochlainn Elected before 26 June 1297 and gained possession of the temporalities after that date; died circa 1315 1316 1319 Áed Ó Néill Elected in 1316; died in June 1319 1319 1349 Michael Mac Lochlainn, O.F.M. Elected after 19 August 1319; died before 18 December 1349; also known as Mauricius 1349 aft.1380 Simon, O.P. He had been appointed Bishop of Clonmacnoise in 1349, but did not take effect; appointed to Derry on 18 December 1349, but date of his consecration is not known; died after 1380 unknown 1391 Johannes Died before July 1391 1391 1394 John Dongan, O.S.B. Previously Bishop of Mann and the Isles (1374–1387); appointed before 11 July 1391; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of London 1392; translated to Down 16 September 1394 1394 (Seoán Ó Mocháin) Previously Bishop of Elphin; appointed on 16 September 1394, but did not take effect. 1398 1401 Aodh Appointed before 25 February 1398; possibly resigned before August 1401; also known as Hugh 1401 1415 Seoán Ó Flannabhra, O.Cist. Previously abbot of Macosquin; appointed 19 August 1401; died before February 1415 1415 1419 (Domhnall Mac Cathmhaoil) Appointed 20 February 1514, but was never consecrated; died before October 1419. 1419 1429 Domhnall Ó Mearaich Appointed 16 October 1419; translated to Connor 9 December 1429 1429 1433 Eoghan Ó Domhnaill Translated from Connor 9 December 1429; died before September 1433; also known as Eugenius 1433 1458 Johannes Oguguin Appointed 18 September and consecrated after 17 October 1433; died before May 1458; also known as Johnannes Ogubun 1458 1463 Bartholomaeus Ó Flannagáin, O.Cist. Previously a monk in Assaroe Abbey; appointed 27 May 1458; resigned in 1463 1464 1466 Johannes Died before April 1466 1467 1484 Nicholas Weston Appointed 21 February 1467; died in December 1484 1485 1501 Domhnall Ó Fallamhain, O.F.M. Appointed 16 May 1485 and consecrated after July 1487; died 5 July 1501 1503 1519 Séamus mac Pilib Mac Mathghamhna Formerly Bishop-designate of Clogher in 1494; became Bishop of Derry on 26 November 1503; died in office 1520 1550/51 Ruaidhrí Ó Domhnaill Appointed 11 January 1520; died 8 October 1550 (or 1551); also known in English as Rory O'Donnell 1550/51 1554 See vacant 1554 1569 Eugene O'Doherty Appointed 25 June 1554; died circa 1569 Post-Reformation bishops
Church of Ireland succession
List of Church of Ireland Bishops of Derry [3] From Until Incumbent Notes c.1569 1605 See vacant Denis Campbell, Dean of Limerick, was nominated to be bishop of Derry, Raphoe and Clogher in 1603, but died before consecration in July 1603 1605 1609 George Montgomery Nominated 15 February and Letters Patent 13 June 1605; also was bishop of Clogher (1605–1621) and Raphoe (1605–1609); translated to Meath 8 July 1609 1610 1611 Brutus Babington Nominated 11 August 1610 and consecrated in the same year; died 10 September 1611 1613 1615 John Tanner Formerly Bishop-designate of Dromore 1612-1613; nominated to Derry on 16 April and consecrated in May 1613; died 14 October 1615 1616 1634 George Downham Nominated 28 October 1616 and consecrated in January 1617; died 17 April 1634 1634 1661 John Bramhall Nominated 9 May and consecrated 26 May 1634; translated to Armagh 18 January 1661 1661 1665 George Wild Nominated 6 August 1660 and consecrated 27 January 1661; 29 December 1665 1666 1679 Robert Mossom Nominated 11 January and consecrated 1 April 1666; died 21 December 1679 1680 1681 Michael Ward Translated from Ossory; nominated 6 January and letters patent 22 January 1680; died 3 October 1681 1681 1690 Ezekiel Hopkins Translated from Raphoe; nominated 21 October and letters patent 11 November 1681; died 22 June 1690 1691 1703 William King Nominated 7 December 1690 and consecrated 25 January 1691; translated to Dublin 11 March 1703 1703 1713 Charles Hickman Nominated 17 February and consecrated 11 June 1703; died 28 November 1713 1714 1717 John Hartstonge Translated from Ossory; nominated 7 February and letters patent 3 March 1714; died 30 January 1717 1717 1718 St George Ashe Translated from Clogher; nominated 16 February and letters patent 25 February 1717; died 27 February 1718 1718 1727 William Nicolson Translated from Carlisle; letters patent 2 May 1718; translated to Cashel 28 January 1727 1727 1735 Henry Downes Translated from Meath; nominated 11 January and letters patent 8 February 1727; died 14 January 1735 1735 1743 Thomas Rundle Nominated 20 February and consecrated 3 August 1735; died 15 April 1743 1743 1745 Carew Reynell Translated from Down and Connor; nominated 25 April and letters patent 6 May 1743; died 1 January 1745 1745 1747 George Stone Translated from Kildare; nominated 26 April and letters patent 11 May 1745; translated to Armagh 13 March 1747 1747 1768 William Barnard Translated from Raphoe; nominated 28 February and letters patent 19 March 1747; died 10 January 1768 1768 1803 The Hon. Frederick Augustus Hervey Translated from Cloyne; nominated 28 January and letters patent 18 February 1768; also became the fourth Earl of Bristol 23 December 1779; died 8 July 1803 1803 1831 The Hon. William Knox Translated from Killaloe and Kilfenora; nominated 27 August and letters 9 September 1803; died 10 July 1831 1831 1853 The Hon. Richard Ponsonby Translated from Killaloe and Kilfenora; nominated 14 September and letters patent 21 September 1831; became Bishop of Derry and Raphoe on 5 September 1834; died 27 October 1853 Since 1834, the Church of Ireland see has been part of the united bishopric of Derry and Raphoe. Roman Catholic succession
List of Roman Catholic Bishops of Derry [6][7] From Until Incumbent Notes 1569 1601 Redmond O'Gallagher Translated from Killala 22 June 1569; died 15 March 1601 1601 1622 See vacant No record of vicars apostolic appointed. 1622 unknown Luke Rochford, vicar apostolic Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief 13 March 1622 1629 1668 Terence Kelly, vicar apostolic Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief 10 January 1629; deprived in 1668 1671 unknown Eugene Conwell, vicar apostolic Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief 30 June 1671 1684 1711 Bernard O'Cahan, vicar apostolic Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief in January 1684; died circa 1711 1694 c.1696 Fergus Laurence Lea Appointed 8 February 1694, but it seems probable that he never took possession of the see; also was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Raphoe 18 February 1694; died circa 1696 1711 1720 See vacant 1720 unknown Terence Donnelly Appointed 5 January and consecrated 27 March 1720; death date unknown 1727 1738 Neil Conway Appointed 7 April 1727; died 6 January 1738 1739 1749 Michael O'Reilly Appointed 24 April 1739; translated to Armagh 23 January 1749 1749 1750 John Brullaghhaun Appointed 7 May 1749; died in 1750; also known as John O'Brolchain 1751 1752 Patrick Bradley, O.P. Appointed 29 January and consecrated 3 March 1751; resigned in 1752; also known as Patrick O'Brolchain 1752 1765 John MacColgan Appointed 19 March and by papal brief 4 May 1752; died in 1765 1766 1797 Phillip MacDevitt Appointed 4 January 1766; died 24 November 1797 1797 1824 Charles O'Donnell Appointed coadjutor bishop 11 (or 14) January 1797; succeeded 24 November 1797; died 19 July 1824 1824 1840 Peter MacLaughlin Formerly Bishop of Raphoe 1802-1819; appointed Administrator of Derry 12 January 1819 due to Bishop O'Donnell's age and infirmity; appointed bishop of Derry 4 April and by papal brief 11 May 1824; died 18 August 1840 1840 1864 John MacLaughlin Appointed coadjutor bishop 21 February and consecrated 16 July 1837; succeeded 18 August 1840; resigned in 1864; died 18 June 1864 1864 1889 Francis Kelly Appointed coadjutor bishop 19 April and consecrated 21 October 1849; succeeded in 13 June 1864; died 1 September 1889 1889 1907 John Keys O'Doherty Appointed 28 December 1889 and consecrated 2 March 1890; died 25 February 1907 1907 1926 Charles MacHugh Appointed 14 June and consecrated 29 September 1907; died 12 February 1926 1926 1939 Bernard O'Kane Appointed 21 June and consecrated 26 September 1926; died 5 January 1939 1939 1973 Neil Farren Appointed 5 August and consecrated 1 October 1939; resigned 14 April 1973; died 8 May 1980 1974 1993 Edward Daly Appointed 31 January and consecrated 31 March 1974; resigned 26 October 1993 1994 present Séamus Hegarty Translated from Raphoe; appointed 1 October and installed 6 November 1994 Notes
References
- ^ a b c Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 345. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- ^ a b Fryde, ibid., pp.371-372
- ^ a b Fryde, ibid., pp. 387-388
- ^ "Bishops". Diocese of Derry. http://www.derrydiocese.org/bishops.asp. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ a b Fryde, ibid., pp. 345-346
- ^ Fryde, ibid., pp. 422-423
- ^ "Diocese of Derry". Catholic Hierarchy. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dderr.html. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
Categories:- Bishops of Derry
- Lists of bishops and archbishops
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry
- Religion in County Londonderry
- Religion in County Tyrone
- Lists of Irish bishops and archbishops
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
