THE CHURCH IN ENGLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 21 December 1911, Page 2579

THE CHURCH IN ENGLAND

DIVISION OF THE PROVINCE OF WESTMINSTER. Simultaneously with the announcement of the raising of the Archbishop of Westminster to the Cardinalate was received, the official notification of the division of the Province of Westminster into three separate Provinces, and the consequent creation of two new Archbishops. The official announcement was as follows: ' The Archbishop of Westminster has received communication of the Apostolic Letters whereby new ecclesiastical provinces are created at Birmingham and Liverpool, and the present Bishops of Birmingham and Liverpool are raised to the Archiepiscopal dignity. The Archbishop of Birmingham will have as Suffragans -the Bishops of Clifton, Menevia, Newport, Plymouth, and Shrewsbury. The Suffragans of the Archbishop of Liverpool will be the Bishops of Hexham and Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leeds, and Salford. The Archbishop of Westminster remains the Metropolitan of the Sees of Northampton, Nottingham, Portsmouth, and Southwark, and is granted precedence over all the other Archibishops and Bishops, with the right to convoke and preside at all meetings of the Hierarchy, to act as representative of the Episcopate in all official negotiations with the Government, and to the use of the Throne, Pallium, and Archiepiscopal Cross throughout the whole of England and Wales.' A comparison of the statistics of the new provinces gives some idea of their relative strength. The figures which follow (says the Catholic Weekly) are based upon totals which appear in the current Catholic Directory.Westminsterpriests (secular and regular), 1607; churches and chapels, 618. Birminghampriests (secular and. regular), 829 churches and chapels, 455. Liverpoolpriests (secular and regular), 1296; churches and chapels, 640. .- Dr. Ilsley, who becomes the Birmingham Metropolitan, has been associated with religious life in the Midlands since his early years (says the Catholic Times.) He was born in the diocese over which he rules, and it has had the benefit of all his labors as a priest and a prelate. His predecessor, Dr. Ullathorne, confirmed him, gave him Minor Orders, ordained him priest,.and officiated at his consecration as Bishop. It was Dr. Ilsley's success as a practical educationist that convinced Dr. Ullathorne of his fitness for the episcopal offiee. So admirably did Dr. Ilsley discharge his duties as

Rector of St. Bernard’s Seminary, Olton, that when the Holy Father allowed the Bishop to present the name of a priest who might be appointed CoadjutorBishop he felt, as he stated on the occasion of the consecration, that a priest who had so completely realised the proper formation of a college and who had so efficiently presided over it ’was the man best suited to be his assistant in governing the diocese. Endowed with remarkable mental vigour, Dr. TJllathorne did much to build up the Church in the diocese. As was said of another prelate of the Midlands, Dr. Walsh, he reconnoitered prudently, foresaw correctly, and planned judiciously. Dr. Ilsley gave him strenuous aid, and when he succeeded him, not only strengthened the foundations he had laid, but conceived, matured, and carried through projects for religious development in in many directions. Owing to his fostering care and the support he has received from his clergy and their flocks, Catholicity has prospered in the diocese, and the new arrangements made - by the Holy See will undoubtedly tend to accelerate its growth. The elevation of Liverpool to the status of a Metropolitan See has been expected for a considerable time. It is a great diocese, ruled by a Bishop peculiarly qualified to understand and satisfy the spiritual needs of the people. Dr. Whiteside was born amongst them, is thoroughly conversant with their habits and customs, is gifted with high administrative capacity, and has during his episcopate had the advantage of being in the best years of manhood, for he was only thirtyseven when appointed Bishop in 1894. The Right Rev. Dr. Bilsborrow, late Bishop of Salford, whom he succeeded as President of St. Joseph’s College, Unholland, said in the course of the sermon preached at his consecration ; ‘ You will find him humble and patient, gentle but firm, accessible and impartial, honoring, rewarding, blessing true merit wherever it exists, without distinction of order or nation.’ The preacher knew his character. These qualities have endeared the Bishop of Liverpool to all the members of his flock, and enabled him to achieve splendid results in working for the interests of the Church in the north. Visitors who. have examined the Catholic institutions under his care have again and again expressed their admiration of the degree of perfection attained in the equipment of the diocese. Everything is complete and thorough in educational workin- the primary schools, in the Poor Law and Industrial schools, and in the colleges. With whole-hearted unanimity his people are always ready to follow the Bishop’s lead, and it is not too much to say ? that when our schools ere seriously threatened, one of the strongest factors in saving the situation was ,the power manifested in the immense Catholic demonstration within and around St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, under the chairmanship of the. Bishop. Not only by the Catholics of the diocese, but by a large number of non-Catholics in the North, the announcement of Dr. Whiteside’s elevation is enthusiastically welcomed.