Diocese of Meath and Kildare
| Diocese of Meath and Kildare Church of Ireland | |
| Province: | Dublin |
|---|---|
 | |
 Kildare Cathedral | |
| Bishop: | Pat Storey |
| Cathedral: | Trim Cathedral, Kildare Cathedral |
| Organisation | |
| Details | |
| Website: | www.meathandkildare.org |
The Diocese of Meath and Kildare, also known more formally as 'the United Dioceses of Meath and Kildare' is a diocese in the Church of Ireland and part of the Province of Dublin.[1]
The bishop of this diocese has a unique distinction: he is styled The Most Reverend; a title reserved elsewhere in the Church of Ireland, as in the Church of England, to archbishops alone
History of the Diocese of Meath
Although there had been abbot-bishops at Clonard Abbey since the sixth century, the Diocese of Clonard proper was not formally established until 1111. It was one of the twenty-four dioceses established by the Synod of Rathbreasail. The diocese covered roughly the western part of the Kingdom of Meath with the bishop's seat located at Clonard Abbey. During the twelfth century, the bishops of Clonard acquired most of Meath as their territory and frequently used the title "Bishop of Meath" or "Bishop of the men of Meath". After Bishop Simon Rochfort transferred his seat from Clonard to Trim in 1202, the normal style became the "Bishop of Meath".
History of the Diocese of Kildare
In the 5th century, the Abbey of Kildare was founded by Saint Brigid, a double monastery of nuns and monks. The abbey was governed by an abbess, who was the "heir of Brigit" (comarbae Brigte), and by abbots, bishops and abbot-bishops who were subordinate to the abbess.[2] It was not until the 12th century however, that the bishopric was formally established at the Synod of Rathbreasail (1111).[3] The diocese covered roughly the northern part of the Counties of Kildare and the eastern part of Offaly.
Diocesan structure
In Meath
The cathedral church of the former diocese is Trim Cathedral. There are ten parishes in this part of the United Dioceses: Athboy, Athlone, Castlepollard (Rathgraffe), Clara, Julianstown, Kells, Mullingar, Navan, Trim, and Tullamore (Kilbride). The dean is the Dean of Clonmacnoise.
In Kildare
The cathedral church of the former diocese is Kildare Cathedral. There are six parishes in this part of the United Dioceses: Clane, Clonsast (Clonbullogue), Mountmellick, Naas, Newbridge (Morristownbiller), and Portarlington St Paul (French Church).[4] The dean is the Dean of Kildare.
Bishops
| Bishops of Meath and Kildare | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1976 | 1985 | Donald Caird | Translated from Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe; elected 9 September and confirmed 14 September 1976; translated to Dublin in 1985. |
| 1985 | 1996 | Walton Empey | Translated from Limerick and Killaloe in 1985; subsequently translated to Dublin in 1996. |
| 1996 | 2012 | Richard Clarke | Elected and consecrated in 1996;[5][6] translated to Armagh 15 December 2012. |
| 2013 | Pat Storey | Appointment by the House of Bishops announced 20 September 2013; consecrated in Dublin 30 November 2013.[7] | |
| Source(s):[8] | |||
References
- ↑ History: Bishops of Kildare and Bishops of Meath Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 16 June 2009
- ↑ Moody, T. W.; Martin, F. X.; Byrne, F. J., eds (1984). Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II. New History of Ireland: Volume XI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 259–262. ISBN 0-19-821745-5.
- ↑ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 357–358. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- ↑ Parishes in the Diocese of Meath & Kildare. Church of Ireland. Retrieved on 16 June 2009.
- ↑ Meath & Kildare. Church of Ireland. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
- ↑ Essays on post-Catholic Ireland and the Christian future, Richard Clarke at columba.ie
- ↑ "Irish Anglicans install Rev Pat Storey as bishop". BBC News. 2013-11-30. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25159579. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
- ↑ E. B. Fryde et al., Handbook of British Chronology (Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 403.