Bonaventure Giffard

Bonaventure Giffard (1642 - 1734) was the Roman Catholic Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District of England from 1687 until 1703.

Born at Wolverhampton, England, Giffard was second son of Andrew Giffard of Chillington Hall, Staffordshire. His father, who married Catherine, daughter of Sir Walter Leveson, was slain in a skirmish near his own home, during the Civil War. Owing to the persecution of Roman Catholics, Bonaventure was sent, with his younger brother Andrew, to Douai to be educated. From Douai, in October 1667, he went to Paris to pursue his theological studies, and was ordained for the secular mission. Some years later, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at the Sorbonne.

Having attracted the attention of King James II, he was appointed preacher to the court. Pope Innocent XI had entered into negotiations with James II and, as a result, four vicariates were formed, Dr. Giffard being put in charge of the Midlands. He was consecrated bishop, at Whitehall Palace, by the nuncio, Ferdinando d'Adda on 22 April 1688. At this time, James had compelled the authorities of Magdalen College, Oxford to accept Bishop Parker as their president, and, on Parker's death in 1688, he had twelve Catholic fellows appointed and made Giffard president, despite the fact that the college electors had selected a Protestant, John Hough.

Giffard took up his residence there on 15 June 1688. A storm of opposition arose, and he wad ejected about five months later. The Revolution of 1688 followed, and the bishop was seized and imprisoned at Newgate Prison, where he remained nearly two years. He was released on bail in 1690, and for more than twenty-four years led a perilous life, being frequently compelled to hide from his pursuers. When John Leyburn died in 1703, Bishop Giffard was charged to look after his district, and from 1708 to 1713 he had to govern the Western vicariate as well. In this he was aided by his brother Andrew, his vicar-general, until the latter died in 1714. Henry Howard was nominated as coadjutor to Dr. Giffard in 1720; but, as he died before his consecration, Benjamin Petre was appointed.

Giffard passed away fourteen years later, March 12 1734, at the age of ninety-two. He was buried beside his brother Andrew, in the churchyard of St. Pancras. A few of his sermons have been preserved, and many of his interesting letters were printed in the "Catholic Miscellany", in 1826 and 1827.