The Diocese of Northampton is one of the 22

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

dioceses in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

and a

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church '' sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language onc ...

suffragan

diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associ ...

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...

. Its see is in

Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England ...

. The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate and St Thomas of Canterbury is the mother church of the Diocese.

Location

The diocese now covers the counties of

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It ...

and

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-e ...

under their pre-1974

historic History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

boundaries. Until 1976, the counties of

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to t ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nor ...

and

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include ...

were also included; since then they have formed the

Diocese of East Anglia The Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church covering the counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Peterborough in eastern England. The diocese makes up part of the Catholic Ass ...

History

When

St Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Afr ...

came from

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

in 597 he concentrated on the areas of

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

and

Essex Essex () is a Ceremonial counties of England, county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the Riv ...

, but thirty years later the area that the Northampton Diocese covers finally received the

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

message, with the arrival of the missionary St Birinius and the foundation of his see at Dorchester-on-Thames in 636. Nevertheless, the real evangelisation of the people who dwelt in the diocese was achieved through the labours and missionaries of the isle of

Lindisfarne Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important ...

, off the Northumbrian coast. Notable amongst them was

St Chad Chad of Mercia (died 2 March 672) was a prominent 7th-century Anglo-Saxon Catholic monk who became abbot of several monasteries, Bishop of the Northumbrians and subsequently Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey People. He was later canonised ...

, whose see, established at

Lichfield Lichfield () is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated roughly south-east of the county town of Stafford, south-east of Rugeley, north-east of Walsall, north-west of Tamworth and south-west o ...

in 669, included the present diocese of Northampton. From the time of the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

until 1850, Catholic dioceses ceased to exist in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

. However, in 1688 England was divided into four Apostolic vicariates, with Northampton under the authority of the

Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District The Apostolic Vicariate of the Midland District (later of the Central District) was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. It was led by an apostolic vicar (or vicar apostolic) who was a titular bishop. Th ...

. In 1840, the Apostolic Vicariate of the Eastern District was created out of the Midland District. On the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is En ...

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

on 29 September 1850, most of the Eastern District became the Diocese of Northampton. Its first bishop was

William Wareing Bishop William Wareing (14 February 1791 – 26 December 1865) was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Northampton. Born at Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, and after studying at Oscott College, William Wareing was ordained as a Ca ...

, previously

Vicar Apostolic 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 pr ...

of the Eastern District. On 13 March 1976, by decree ''Quod Ecumenicum'',

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

formed the

for the counties of

and

by detaching these counties from the Diocese of Northampton.

Diocesan Coat of Arms

The motto under the shield translates as 'Beneath Thy Protection'. On the shield are lilies and choughs, which are symbols of the two patrons of the Diocese, and of the Cathedral,

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother ...

and

St Thomas of Canterbury Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then ...

Bishops

Bishop

Patrick Leo McCartie Patrick Leo McCartie (5 September 1925 – 23 April 2020) was a British Catholic prelate who was the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and Bishop of Northampton. Life McCartie was born in West Hartlepool in Septe ...

was a bishop emeritus of Northampton, having retired on 29 March 2001 after serving the diocese for 11 years. He was succeeded by bishop Kevin John Patrick McDonald, who went on to be appointed Archbishop of

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

on 6 November 2003. Bishop McCartie died on 22 April 2020. The next

Bishop of Northampton The Bishop of Northampton is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton in the Province of Westminster, England. The see is in the town of Northampton where the bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Our Lady and ...

was

Peter John Haworth Doyle Peter John Haworth Doyle (born 3 May 1944) is the retired Roman Catholic Bishop of Northampton. Early life Doyle was born on 3 May 1944 in Wilpshire, Lancashire, the son of John Robert Doyle and his wife Alice Gertrude (née Haworth)NORTHAMPTON ...

, born on 3 May 1944 at Wilpshire, near

Blackburn Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, east of Preston and north-n ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...

. He retired on 8 January 2020, with David James Oakley being appointed at that time as successor.

Ordinaries

(appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District on 5 June 1840, elevated Bishop of Northampton on 29 September 1850 – resigned on 21 December 1858) *

Francis Kerril Amherst Francis Kerril Amherst, T.O.S.D., (21 March 1819, London – 21 August 1883) was an English Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton in England. Life Francis Amherst was born in Marylebone, London 21 March 1819. He was the eldest ...

(appointed on 14 May 1858 – resigned 16 October 1879) * Arthur George Riddell (appointed on 27 April 1880 – died in office on 15 September 1907) * Frederick William Keating (appointed on 5 February 1908 – translated to the Archdiocese of Liverpool on 13 June 1921) * Dudley Charles Cary-Elwes (appointed on 21 November 1921 – died in office on 1 May 1932) * Laurence William Youens (appointed on 16 June 1933 – died in office on 14 November 1939) * Thomas Leo Parker (appointed on 14 December 1940 – retired 17 January 1967) *

Charles Alexander Grant Charles Alexander Grant (25 October 1906 – 24 April 1989) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Northampton from 1967 to 1982. Born in Cambridge on 25 October 1906, he was received into the Catholic Ch ...

(appointed on 14 March 1967 – retired 16 February 1982) *

Francis Gerard Thomas Francis Gerard Thomas (20 May 1930 – 25 December 1988) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Northampton from 1982 to 1988. Life Francis Gerard Thomas was born in Stone, Staffordshire on 20 May 1930. He ...

(appointed on 27 August 1982 – died in office on 25 December 1988) *

(appointed on 20 February 1990 – retired 29 March 2001) * Kevin John Patrick McDonald (appointed on 29 March 2001 – translated to the

Archdiocese of Southwark The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Southvarcensis'') is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in England. It is headed by the Archbishop of Southwark. The archdiocese is part of the Metropolitan P ...

on 6 November 2003) *

(appointed on 24 May 2005 – retired on 8 January 2020) * David James Oakley (appointed on 8 January 2020 – present)

Auxiliary Bishops

* Alan Charles Clark (1969-1976), appointed Bishop of East Anglia *

(1961-1967), appointed Bishop of Northampton

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

* Joseph Edward Rudderham, appointed Bishop of Clifton in 1949

Statistics

The estimated Catholic population of the diocese in 2004 was 173,539 while the total population in the diocesan territory was 2,000,769. The diocese covers a territory of 5,532 km² and has 68 parishes.

Schools

Below is a partial list of the schools located within the diocese:

Primary schools

* Bishop Parker Primary, Milton Keynes * Cardinal Newman School, Luton * Good Shepherd Primary, Northampton * Holy Family Catholic School, Langley * Our Lady of Walsingham Primary, Corby * Our Lady's Infants, Wellingborough * Our Lady of Peace Infants, Burnham * Our Lady of Peace Junior, Burnham * Our Lady's Junior School, Wellingborough * Our Lady's Primary School, Chesham Bois * Sacred Heart Primary, Luton * St Anthony's Primary, Slough * St Bernadette's Primary, Milton Keynes * St Bernard's Preparatory School, Slough * St Brendan's Primary, Corby * St Edwards Junior School, Aylesbury * St Edwards Primary, Kettering * St Ethelbert's Primary, Slough * St Gregory's Middle School, Bedford * St Gregory's Primary, Northampton * St John Rigby Lower School, Bedford * St Josephs High School, Slough * St Josephs Infants School, Aylesbury * St Josephs Infants School, Luton * St Josephs Junior School, Luton * St Joseph's Lower School, Bedford *

St Josephs Primary ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

, Chalfont St Peter * St Louis Primary, Aylesbury * St Margaret's Primary, Luton * St Martin de Porres Primary, Luton * St Mary Magdalene Primary, Milton Keynes * St Mary's Primary School, Caddington, Dunstable * St Mary's Primary School, Aston-le-Walls * St Mary's Primary School, Northampton *

St Michael's Catholic School, High Wycombe St Michael's Catholic School is a Catholic all-through school located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. In 2023 the school had 1930 pupils. It enrols children aged 3 through 19. The school's catchment area for many years has included ...

* St Monica's Primary School, Milton Keynes * St Patricks Primary, Corby * St Pauls Catholic School, Milton Keynes * St Peter's Primary School, Marlow * St Teresa's Independent School, Princes Risborough * St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Milton Keynes * St Thomas More Primary, Kettering * St Vincent's Primary, Houghton Regis *

Thornton College Thornton is a village and civil parish on the River Great Ouse about north-east of Buckingham in the unitary authority area of Buckinghamshire. The toponym is derived from the Old English for "thorn tree by a farm". The Domesday Book of 1086 ...

, near Buckingham

Secondary schools

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School (formerly St Bernard's Convent School) is an academically selective Roman Catholic state grammar school on Langley Road, Slough. It was previously designated as a Humanities College. The student body is divi ...

, Slough *

St Thomas More Catholic School, Bedford , established = 1979 , closed = , type = Academy , trust = OLICAT , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic , president = , head_label = , head = Martin Bonner , r_head_label = , r_head = , ...

* Thomas Becket Catholic School, Northampton *

, near Buckingham

Pilgrimage

The Northampton Diocese makes up part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage.

Shrines

The Diocese of Northampton has two official shrines. In 2006,

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Great Billing Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church or Our Lady's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Great Billing, Northamptonshire, England. It was built in 1878 and founded by the descendants of John Elwes at Billing Hall in the Romanesque Revival ...

was made a diocesan shrine. On 29 September 2012, Bishop Peter Doyle made the Church of the Holy Child and St Joseph in

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst t ...

shrine A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

to Our Lady of Guadalupe, after a receiving the image from the

Archbishop of Westminster The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the metropolitan of the Province of Westminster, chief metropolitan of England and Wales and, as a matter of custom, is elected presid ...

Vincent Nichols Vincent Gerard Nichols (born 8 November 1945) is an English cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He previously served as Archbishop of Birmin ...

.Shrines
from

Diocese of Northampton The Diocese of Northampton is one of the 22 Roman Catholic dioceses in England and Wales and a Latin Rite suffragan diocese of Westminster. Its see is in Northampton. The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate and St Thomas of Canterbury is the mo ...

, retrieved 18 May 2022

References

External links

Diocese of NorthamptonNorthampton Cathedral
{{coord, 52.2481, -0.8985, type:adm2nd_region:GB, display=title Religion in Bedfordshire Religion in Northamptonshire Christianity in Northampton Pope Pius IX Northmapton