Robert Cornthwaite (bishop)

The Right Reverend

Robert Cornthwaite
Bishop of Leeds
Bishop Robert Cornthwaite
DioceseDiocese of Leeds
Appointed20 December 1878
Term ended16 June 1890
SuccessorWilliam Gordon
Previous post(s)Bishop of Beverley
Orders
Ordination9 November 1845
Consecration10 November 1861
by Nicholas Wiseman
Personal details
Born9 May 1818
Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Died16 June 1890 (aged 72)
Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom
BuriedThe Church of Mary Immaculate, Sicklinghall
NationalityEnglish
DenominationRoman Catholic
ParentsWilliam Cornthwaite and Elizabeth Cornthwaite (née Cuerden)
Alma mater

Robert Cornthwaite (9 May 1818 – 16 June 1890) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was last Bishop of Beverley and the first Bishop of Leeds.[1]

Early life and ministry

Robert Cornthwaite was born in Preston, Lancashire,[1] the son of William and Elizabeth (née Cuerden) Cornthwaite.[2] He entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw on 9 May 1830, and received the Tonsure and the four minor orders from Bishop Francis George Mostyn on 5 June 1841. During his last year at Ushaw, Cornthwaite taught Humanities.[2]

He entered the English College, Rome on 30 September 1842, and took the oath there on 2 July 1842.[2] He was ordained a subdeacon in December 1843, a deacon on 3 March 1844, and a priest on 9 November 1845.[1][3] After leaving the English College on 13 April 1846, he joined the mission at Carlisle.[4] He returned to Rome on his appointment as the Rector of the English College, Rome on 25 August 1851, remaining in that post until resigned in September 1857.[4] On his return to England, he became the Missionary Rector of St Augustine's, Darlington and Secretary to William Hogarth, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.[4] He was appointed Cameriere d'onore extra Urbem (Honorary Prelate) to His Holiness on 16 July 1858, and made Canon and Theologian of the Chapter of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.[4]

Episcopal career

On 3 September 1861, Cornthwaite was appointed to succeed John Briggs as bishop of the Diocese of Beverley.[1] His consecration to the Episcopate took place on 10 November 1861, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, with Thomas Grant, Bishop of Southwark, and Richard Roskell, Bishop of Nottingham serving as co-consecrators.[1]

In December 1865, Cornthwaite brought the Little Sisters of the Poor to Leeds. The sisters set up their first home in Hanover Square.[5]

The "Great Convent Case" opened on 3 February 1869 at Westminster Hall with press interest. Sister of Mercy Susan Saurin accused her superiors of lying to Cornthwaite in addition to assault and imprisonment. Saurin had previously complained to the Bishop and the enquiry he created was held to be a "parody of justice". The Bishop was reprimanded for not fixing the “miserable squabbles of a convent”. Saurin was awarded fifty pounds in damages.[6] The Daily Telegraph made a special publication on the "Inner Life of the Hull Nunnery Exposed" to cover the trial.[7]

On the 20 December 1878, the Diocese of Beverley was suppressed and it was replaced by the dioceses of Leeds and Middlesbrough.[8][9] Cornthwaite continued to serve as the Bishop of Leeds until his death on 16 June 1890, aged 72.[1] He is buried at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Sicklinghall.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Robert Cornthwaite". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession, volume 3, p. 398.
  3. ^ Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession, volume 3, pp. 398–399.
  4. ^ a b c d Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession, volume 3, p. 399.
  5. ^ "Leeds celebrates 150 years", Little Sisters of the Poor, December 27, 2015
  6. ^ "The 'great convent scandal' that transfixed Victorian England". Catholic Herald. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. ^ SAURIN, Susannah Mary; STAR, Mary Ann (1869). The Inner Life of the Hull Nunnery exposed ... being a full report of the great trial, Saurin v. Starr and another ... reprinted from the London Daily Telegraph. London, Manchester [printed. OCLC 503732394.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ "Diocese of Leeds". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Diocese of Middlesbrough". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Previous Bishops". The Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 14 August 2011.

Bibliography

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Beverley
1861–1878 		Last appointment
New title Bishop of Leeds
1878–1890 		Succeeded by