Thomas William Wilkinson (5 April 1825 – 17 April 1909) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. He served as

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 ...

from 1889 to 1909. Born at Harperley Park,

Harperley Harperley is a small village in County Durham, England. It is situated between Tantobie to the north east, Tanfield Lea to the east, Stanley to the south, East Kyo to the south east and Catchgate, West Kyo and Annfield Plain to the west. Harp ...

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 ...

on 5 April 1825, he was educated at

Harrow Harrow may refer to: Places * Harrow, Victoria, Australia * Harrow, Ontario, Canada * The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland * London Borough of Harrow, England ** Harrow, London, a town in London ** Harrow (UK Parliament constituency) ...

and at

Durham University , 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_chan ...

. He graduated with a 6th class (ordinary) BA in April 1845 and with an LTh in June of the same year. He converted to Catholicism in 1846. Wilkinson was ordained priest in December 1848 and assigned to found a mission in Tow Law, Weardale. He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and

Titular Bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of ''Cisamus'' on 15 May 1888. His

consecration Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...

to the

Episcopate A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

took place on 25 July 1888, the principal consecrator was Bishop William Clifford of Clifton, and the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop

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 ...

of Glasgow and Bishop

Arthur Riddell Bishop Arthur George Riddell (born 15 September 1836, York – died 1907, England, UK) was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Northampton from 1880 until his death in 1907. On 24 September 1858, aged 22, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Beve ...

of Northampton. The following year, he was appointed

on 28 December 1889. He also served as President of

Ushaw College Ushaw College (formally St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw), is a former Roman Catholic Church, 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 ...

. He died in office at Ushaw College on 17 April 1909, aged 84, and was buried at Ushaw College cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkinson, Thomas William 1825 births 1909 deaths 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in England 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in England People from County Durham (district) People educated at Harrow School Alumni of University College, Durham Roman Catholic bishops of Hexham and Newcastle