Archdiocese of Glasgow facts for kids
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The Archdiocese of Glasgow was a very important part of the Christian church in Scotland a long time ago. This was before the Protestant Reformation in 1560. It was one of the largest church areas, called a diocese, in the Kingdom of Scotland. It covered a big region, including places like Clydesdale, Teviotdale, and parts of Ayrshire.
In 1492, Glasgow became an "archbishopric." This meant it was an even more important church area. It had control over other smaller church areas, known as suffragan dioceses, like Galloway and Argyll. The Scottish church stopped following the Pope in Rome in 1560. However, bishops in Glasgow continued to serve for some time, until 1689.
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A Look Back at Glasgow's Church History
The church area of Glasgow became really important in the 1100s. King David I of Scotland and Bishop John helped organize it. There was an older religious site there, but we don't know exactly how old it was. Some old stories say that Saint Kentigern first set up this church site.
How Glasgow Grew Stronger
The bishopric became one of the biggest and wealthiest in Scotland. This brought a lot of money and importance to the town of Glasgow. Between 1175 and 1178, Bishop Jocelin made it even stronger. He got permission from King William the Lion for Glasgow to become a "burgh." A burgh was a special town with trading rights and other legal benefits. This helped Glasgow grow a lot. Later, between 1189 and 1195, an annual fair was added. This fair, known as the Glasgow Fair, still happens today!
Important Bishops and Their Impact
Until 1560, when the practice of the Catholic faith was stopped by the Scottish Parliament, most bishops of Glasgow played a big role in running the country. They often served as important government officials, like chancellors or treasurers. Some even helped rule when a king or queen was too young.
Robert Wishart was a bishop from 1272 to 1316. He was known for his strong support of Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. He was a close friend of famous Scottish heroes like William Wallace and Robert Bruce.
Another important bishop was William Turnbull, who served from 1447 to 1454. In 1450, he received permission from Pope Nicholas V to start the University of Glasgow. This university is still a major learning center today!
Becoming an Archbishopric
On January 9, 1492, Pope Innocent VIII made Glasgow an "archbishopric." This meant it was a main church area that oversaw other smaller dioceses. These included Argyle, Dunblane, Dunkeld, and Galloway.
James Beaton was the fourth and last archbishop of the old church system. In 1560, he had to leave Scotland and go to France. There, he worked secretly for Mary, Queen of Scots. Later, he openly served as an ambassador for King James VI until he died in Paris in 1603.
When he left, he took important church records with him. These records, like the "Registrum Vetus Ecclesiae Cathedralis Glasguensis," tell us a lot about the church's history. They were later printed in a book called "Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis."
A beautiful reminder of these times is the old cathedral of St. Mungo. Bishop Jocelyn started building it between 1175 and 1199. The last parts were added by Archbishop Blackader between 1484 and 1508.
The Church Returns to Scotland
In 1828, the Catholic Church in Scotland began to be re-established. This was part of the Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy. The Holy See (the Pope's authority) set up the Western District of Scotland. The first church leader, called a vicar Apostolic, to live in Glasgow was Andrew Scott.
He was followed by John Murdoch and John Gray. In 1869, Charles Petre Eyre became the administrator. Then, when the Scottish church system was fully restored by Pope Leo XIII on March 4, 1878, the Archbishopric of Glasgow was officially brought back. Archbishop Eyre was then appointed to lead this restored church area.
Bishops and archbishops
