The Bishop of Derry is an
episcopal
Episcopal may refer to:
*Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church
*Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese
*Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name
** Episcopal Church (United State ...
title which takes its name after the monastic settlement originally founded at Daire Calgach and later known as Daire Colm Cille, Anglicised as Derry. In the
Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the
Church of Ireland it has been united with
another bishopric.
History
At the
Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 Ireland was divided up into ecclesiastical dioceses based on territorial units. One of these was for the Cenel Conaill who could have its Episcopal see either at Raphoe or Derry. At the
Synod of Kells in 1152 however Derry and the Inishowen peninsula were moved from the diocese of the Cenel Conaill to that of the Cenel Eogain who controlled both areas. Derry was a
Columba
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
n establishment founded by Columba who was a prince of the Cenel Conaill. It opposed many of the church reforms as well as being made part of the diocese of the Cenel Eogain. As a compromise the foundation of Derry was essentially made a diocese of its own within that of the Cenel Eogain and its comarb styled as the bishop of Derry.
[Lawlor, H.J., ''The Genesis of the Dioceses of Derry and Raphoe'', The Irish Church Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 39 (Jul., 1917), pp. 219-236 (18 pages)]
In regards to the diocese of the Cenel Eogain, its see was at Rathlowry (
Maghera), with the diocese in Latin became known as ''Rathlurensis'' and its bishop as ''Episcopis Rathlurensis''. In 1246 its bishop, Germanus O'Carolan, obtained sanction from
Pope Innocent IV to have the see transferred to Derry due to the remoteness of Rathlowry. By this stage the Columban foundation at Derry had become extinct and was replaced by the Augustinian Order.
From 1254 the diocese became known as Derry and the bishop of the Cenel Eogain was styled as the bishop of Derry.
Following the
Reformation, there are parallel
apostolic succession
Apostolic succession is the method whereby the ministry of the Christian Church is held to be derived from the apostles by a continuous succession, which has usually been associated with a claim that the succession is through a series of bish ...
s. In the
Church of Ireland, Derry continued a separate see until 1834 when it amalgamated with
Raphoe
Raphoe ( ; ) is a historical village in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Barony of Raphoe, which was later divided into the baronies of R ...
and became the united
bishopric of Derry and Raphoe.
[Fryde, ibid., pp. 387-388]
In the
Roman Catholic Church, the title is still a separate bishopric. On 25 February 2014, Pope Francis appointed the then auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor – Most Reverend Donal McKeown – as the new Bishop of Derry. He was installed as Bishop of Derry on Sunday 6 April 2014 in Saint Eugene's Cathedral Derry.
[http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local-news/donal-mckeown-installed-as-bishop-of-derry-1-5984452 ]
Pre-Reformation bishops
;Bishops of the diocese of Cinél nEógain
;Pre-Reformation Bishops of Derry
Post-Reformation bishops
Church of Ireland succession
Roman Catholic succession
Notes
* These two Ua Brolcháin bishops were members of the Cenél Feredaig, who were closely associated with Derry.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Derry, Bishop Of
Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry
Religion in County Londonderry
Religion in County Tyrone
Lists of Irish bishops and archbishops