Archbishop of Glasgow facts for kids
The Archbishop of Glasgow is a special church leader title. It is named after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. This important role has changed over time.
The title was stopped by the Church of Scotland in 1689. In the Scottish Episcopal Church, it is now part of the bishopric of Glasgow and Galloway. However, in the Roman Catholic Church, the title was brought back by Pope Leo XIII in 1878.
Today, the Roman Catholic Archbishop is William Nolan. He started his role on February 26, 2022.
Contents
History of the Archbishops
The church in Glasgow started a long time ago. It began when David I was a prince. The first known bishops were from the 11th century. They were chosen by the Archbishop of York. The main church for the bishop was Glasgow Cathedral.
In 1492, the Pope made the Glasgow church even more important. Pope Innocent VIII changed it from a diocese to an archdiocese. This meant its leader became an Archbishop.
After 1560, the Scottish church broke away from Rome. The Archbishop role continued in the independent Scottish church. But in 1689, the Church of Scotland decided to change. They stopped having bishops and archbishops. This was called the Presbyterian way. So, the role of Archbishop in the established church ended.
Later, the Roman Catholic Church slowly returned to Scotland. This became legal in 1829. This was thanks to the Catholic Emancipation Act. The Pope brought back the Archbishop title for Glasgow. This happened on March 4, 1878. It became a very important archdiocese on May 25, 1947.
Leaders Before the Reformation
Before the Scottish church changed in 1560, many important bishops and archbishops led the church in Glasgow. They played a big part in the history of Scotland.
Early Bishops of Glasgow
The first leaders were called Bishops. They guided the church for centuries. Some well-known bishops include John Capellanus and Jocelin. Jocelin was a Cistercian monk and a former Abbot of Melrose. He became one of the most important bishops of Glasgow.
Archbishops of Glasgow (Pre-Reformation)
In 1492, the Bishopric of Glasgow became an Archbishopric. This meant its leader was now called an Archbishop. Robert Blackadder was the first to hold this new title. He and the archbishops after him were very influential. James Beaton was the last Archbishop before the big changes of the Scottish Reformation.
Leaders After the Reformation
After the Scottish Reformation, the church in Scotland changed a lot. There were different groups of church leaders.
Church of Scotland Archbishops
After 1560, the Church of Scotland continued to have Archbishops for a while. These leaders were part of the new independent Scottish church. Important figures like John Spottiswoode held this role. However, in 1689, the Church of Scotland decided to stop having bishops and archbishops completely. This was a big change for the church.
Scottish Episcopal Church Leaders
Even after 1689, some church leaders continued the line of bishops. This was in the Scottish Episcopal Church. They kept the traditions of having bishops. For a long time, the Glasgow area was part of the Bishops of Edinburgh's care. Since 1837, the area has been part of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway.
Restored Roman Catholic Archbishops
The Roman Catholic Church brought back the Archbishop of Glasgow title in 1878. This was a big step in bringing back the Catholic faith to Scotland. The main church for the Archbishop is Saint Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow.
Many Archbishops have served since then. They include Charles Eyre, who was the first Archbishop after the title was restored. Later, Thomas Winning became a Cardinal, which is a very high rank in the Catholic Church. The current Archbishop is William Nolan. He continues the long history of church leadership in Glasgow.
See also
- Catholicism in Scotland
- Presbyterianism
- Church of Scotland
- Presbytery of Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
- Bishops in the Church of Scotland
- Bishop's Castle, Glasgow
