Only once before in the history of Middlesbrough diocese has a new bishop been appointed to lead the diocese, who was not already a bishop. Thus, most of our bishops have been installed not ordained, and the two ceremonies are very different. As a result, it seems a good time to look back to the Episcopal ordination of the very first Bishop of Middlesbrough, Richard Lacy, and refresh our memories about the beginnings of the diocese as we await the arrival of its seventh bishop.
On 9th February 1879, it was announced that the diocese of Beverley had been divided into two new dioceses, Leeds and Middlesbrough. The Bishop of Beverley, Robert Cornthwaite, became Bishop of Leeds, but continued look after Middlesbrough as its Administrator, until a bishop was appointed by the Pope. The man nominated to lead the new diocese came through the normal procedure of a secret terna or list of names of three suitable men being presented to Rome for the prefect of Propaganda, Cardinal Simeoni to recommend one to the Pope. On 10th November 1879, the news that he had been nominated by Pope Leo Xlll to the new See of Middlesbrough was conveyed to the administrator of the new Cathedral, Dean Richard Lacy, by letter from Cardinal Manning. This was followed by a letter from Cardinal Simeoni himself, confirming the nomination and telling the bishop-elect that the Apostolic mandate of consecration would follow shortly. The news was received with great delight by Catholics in the Middlesbrough area, where Richard Lacy was well-known, and the people of the area in general “viewed this recognition of his services with undisguised satisfaction” (NEDG* 17.11.1879). The editor further added that “the new bishop is a profound scholar and his affability of manner together with his liberality of opinion has made him beloved of his flock and warmly respected by those who differ with him in religion”. The young Dr Lacy must have been very shocked at the news of his elevation for he was one of the youngest priests in the new diocese, being only thirty-eight against an average age of fifty-four. He was also the youngest bishop in the English hierarchy though by the time of his death in 1929, he had become both the oldest and longest serving bishop of the hierarchy. We know however, from the FCJ Convent record of that period that from the day he received the news until the day of his consecration, Dr Lacy stayed in retreat at the home of Dr Cornthwaite; no doubt also receiving practical guidance and advice from the more experienced bishop. This did not mean that he ignored the preparations going on in Middlesbrough for his ordination, and the Sisters recorded that many of the preparations were borne by their community and that they received daily instructions by letter from both Dr Cornthwaite and the Bishop-elect. They enlisted help from their other Houses in Paris and Liverpool to provide such things as new vestments and altar linen which were “worthy of the occasion”, and they obviously succeeded for the Gazette reported that: ‘The high altar with its massive candelabra and tall lighted candles, its tiny vases filled with chrysanthemums of various hues, and its white embroidered cloth was imposing; About the altar were palms and other evergreens, and plants were placed about the chancel. The altar in the chapel on the epistle side of the high altar was set apart for the use of the bishop. The six candles on it were lit, and the white cloth which covered the whole of the altar had upon it in red the words “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus”. (NEDG) The Episcopal vestments that Dr. Lacy wore for the ceremony were two centuries old and on loan from the Carmelite nuns in Darlington, but his mitre was given by Mother Josephine Petit, the Mother-General of the FCJ order. Other necessary gifts included the crozier, which was given to him by his first parish – St Patrick in Bradford, a pectoral cross by old school fellows, the cappa magna by some unnamed ladies and his Episcopal ring by Fr Thomas Holland who was the first priest in South Bank.
The actual ordination Mass was fixed for the “early hour of 9 this (Thursday) morning, but none too early when it is borne in mind that the Cardinal and the Bishop-elect had to fast from nightfall on Wednesday until after the ceremony” (NEDG). The same report also records that it was a fine morning and the ground was covered with a white frost. There is also a wry comment that the good weather was influential in bringing out the leading townsfolk from their homes at an early hour, as well as their desire to witness the service and support the new bishop who “is held in great respect”. Non-Catholics were side by side with leading Catholics from all parts of the new diocese. Amongst the guests were the Local MP, Isaac Wilson, the mayors and mayoresses, local councillors and aldermen. Baron Herries was the most senior Catholic layman listed as attending, and the FCJ record adds that there were over 100 priests present, as well as the Cardinal, and four assisting bishops, together with their priestly households. Every seat in the cathedral was taken, but there is no mention of the ordinary Catholics of the town or diocese being present; they had to be content to be bystanders in the streets around the Cathedral and be represented inside by the gentry. This was not a slight to the ordinary Catholic, but reflects Victorian practice.
Unlike the opening of St Mary’s (soon to be the Cathedral) in 1878, when the music was provided by local people performing a Haydn Mass, the choir for the ordination was made up of monks from Ampleforth “who rendered in a very effective manner” (The Tablet 27.12.1879) the plainsong music chosen for the Mass and accompanied by the organist of St Anne’s Cathedral in Leeds (Rev Mr Downes) who played the harmonium. The procession of priests, bishops and cardinal into the church was greeted by a voluntary and in places it must have been a colourful sight. At its head were carried a brass crucifix and two lighted candles, the priests were in choir dress of cotta, cassock and birettas, the four consecrating bishops (of Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool and Southwark) were in mitres and copes, and each attended by their chaplains carrying their croziers. Bringing up the rear of this procession was Bishop-elect Lacy, whose ‘magnificent cope of white and gold had a coloured scene of some scriptural event on the back of it’ (NEDG). At this point, the Bishop-elect still wore his ordinary black biretta. After this, came the procession of the Cardinal, who was greeted by the singing of the motet Ecce Sacerdos Magnus. We can only imagine the impact that the Cardinal’s flowing scarlet robes and glistening jewelled mitre had on those in the Cathedral. The ceremonies opened by the reading of the Pope’s commission appointing Richard Lacy, as Bishop of Middlesbrough, and the actual ordination took place within the context of a Low Mass. During the early parts of the Mass, the Bishop-elect was at the side altar that had been set apart for him; After moving to stand before the High Altar, his head and hands were anointed with oil of Chrism by the Cardinal and sandals placed on his feet. Then, with his head tied up in a napkin and his hands clasped in a napkin hung from his neck he was led away from the High Altar. After receiving two candles upon which were engraved with his new coat of arms and also those of the Cardinal, two loaves of bread and two small flagons of wine, all of which were carried by priests, the bishop-elect returned to the High Altar and presented them to the Cardinal. He was then invested with his Crozier, Mitre, Pectoral Cross, Gloves and Episcopal Ring and for the first time took his seat on the Episcopal throne. During the singing of the Te Deum, the new Bishop, attended by two other bishops and priests walked down the centre aisle of the cathedral, bestowing his first Episcopal blessings and on his return to the chancel, the service came to an end with the Cardinal giving the new bishop the kiss of peace and pronouncing the blessing. The procession then reformed and left the Cathedral to adjourn, together with the guests, for a banquet.
The ordination of Bishop Lacy was momentous in several ways for the Catholic Church in England, because, as the Cardinal pointed out, it was also the foundation of a new See. Moreover it was the first new See since the Hierarchy had been restored in 1850 and was testament to the extraordinary growth of the Catholic Church in England over those thirty years. The Cardinal also alluded to the shock to Dr Lacy, on his appointment as Bishop: ‘he had been taken away from following his flock unawares, and the supreme voice of authority upon earth had chosen him, and designated him pastor of that diocese.’ (Tablet 27.12.1879) However, his previous experience was a preparation for his new role, in that ‘he had been pastor of the poor, living in their midst, knowing their wants, their sorrows and their sufferings. They had come to him as a father, and they would not stand aloof from him now’ (ibid). In his reply the new Bishop agreed that the day had been one of trial and anxiety for him and one that he had dreaded, ‘Truly the dignity and the onus was not desired nor sought, it was dreaded’ (ibid) but the support he had received had made it a day of joy as well. The following day, the new Bishop was welcomed by the children of the local schools, and hosted receptions from the different sodalities. The FCJ Record commented that it was ‘touching to see the older members of the congregation press around him to kiss his ring and receive his blessing as their Shepherd’.
After the end of the official ceremonies, it was time for the new bishop to start work. He had to help him in his task, thirty eight priests, many of whom were old or sick to such an extent that after five years half of them had died or retired with ill-health. There was little money and it took Bishop Cornthwaite until 1884 to hand over the assets owed to the new Diocese from the division of Beverley. Before that however, the new diocese had to pay its share of the liabilities incurred by Beverley, which turned out to be greater than the assets. Bishop Lacy made his priorities the provision of schools and missions, particularly in rural areas, but some older missions had to be closed as unviable. One of his greatest wishes was to train a ‘native priesthood’ to serve the diocese; made up of men who had been born and brought up in the area, and so very early on an Ecclesiastical Education Fund was established to pay for their training. He also needed to become known to his new flock, and weld the people of the new diocese into one unit, putting aside the doubts and disappointments that had been expressed at the announcement of Middlesbrough as the See town. How he succeeded is not the subject of this article, but what is clear is that Episcopal ordination is indeed a time of joy but also of change and challenge both for the new bishop and his diocese.
*NEDG: North Eastern Daily Gazette and unless otherwise stated refers to its report of the ordination 18.12.1879.
Margaret Turnham