Thomas Byles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Reverend Father Thomas Byles |
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A photograph of Thomas Byles, c. 1900s
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Brentwood |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1902 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Roussel Davids Byles |
| Born | 26 February 1870 Leeds, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 15 April 1912 (aged 42) North Atlantic Ocean |
| Buried | Atlantic Ocean |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Congregationalist (prev.) Church Of England (prev.) Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Reverend Alfred Holden Byles (Father) Louisa Davids (Mother) |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford, Beda College |
Thomas Roussel Davids Byles (born February 26, 1870 – died April 15, 1912) was an English Catholic priest. He was a passenger on the famous ship, the RMS Titanic. The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg on the night of April 14–15, 1912. People saw Father Byles praying with passengers on the ship's back deck as it went down.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Byles was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. His birth name was Roussel Davids Byles. He was the oldest of seven children. His father, Alfred Holden Byles, was a minister.
Young Thomas went to Leamington College and Rossall School. After that, he studied theology at Balliol College, Oxford. He earned his degree in 1894.
Becoming a Priest
While at Oxford, Thomas Byles changed his religion. He first joined the Church of England. Later, he became a Roman Catholic, just like his younger brother William. He then took the name Thomas.
In 1899, he went to the Beda College in Rome to study to become a priest. He was ordained, meaning he became a priest, in 1902. In 1905, he started working at St Helen's Parish in Chipping Ongar, Essex. He stayed there until he died.
Journey on the Titanic
Father Byles was going to New York City to perform his younger brother William's wedding. This is why he was on the RMS Titanic.
On the morning of April 14, 1912, the day the ship sank, he held a Mass for passengers. He spoke about needing a "spiritual lifeboat" through prayer. This was for times when people faced spiritual challenges.
Helping Others During the Sinking
Father Byles was walking on the upper deck, reading his prayer book, when the Titanic hit the iceberg. As the ship began to sink, he helped many third-class passengers get to the boat deck. This was where the lifeboats were.
He was offered a spot on a lifeboat two times, but he refused both times. He chose to stay and help others. Near the end, he prayed the Rosary and other prayers. He also heard confessions and gave absolution to over a hundred passengers. These passengers were stuck on the back of the ship after all the lifeboats had left.
Father Byles's body was never found or identified. His brothers put a special door in his memory at St Helen's Catholic Church in Chipping Ongar. Later, Pope Pius X called Father Byles a "martyr for the Church." A martyr is someone who dies for their faith.
Becoming a Saint?
In April 2015, the priest of St Helen's Church, Graham Smith, started a process. He wants to have Father Byles declared a saint. Bishop Alan Williams of the Diocese of Brentwood supports this idea.
See also
In Spanish: Thomas Byles para niños
