The son of John Douglass and Brigit Senson or Semson, he was born at Yarm , Yorkshire, in December 1743, and at the age of thirteen he was sent to the English College, Douai.[1] There he took the college oath in 1764. He went to the English College in Valladolid, as professor of humanities, arriving there 27 June 1768. At a later period he taught philosophy. Suffering from poor health, he left Valladolid on 30 July 1773, and was priest of the mission of Linton and afterwards at York.[2]
Vicar apostolicedit
While he was a missioner at York he was selected by the Holy See for the London vicariate, in opposition to efforts made by the "catholic committee" to have Charles Berington translated from the Midland to the London district. The appointment caused controversy, and Berington addressed a printed letter to the London clergy, resigning every pretension to the London vicariate. Opposition to Douglass was withdrawn, and he succeeded James Talbot as vicar-apostolic of the London district. His briefs to the titular see of Centurio were dated 25 September 1790,and he was consecrated 19 December the same year, in St. Mary's Church, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, by William Gibson, titular bishop of Acanthus, and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. The London District included the home counties, the West Indies with the exception of Trinidad, and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.[2]
The Catholic Relief Act, passed in June 1791, repealed the statutes of recusancy in favour of persons taking the Irish oath of allegiance of 1778. It was Douglass who suggested that this oath should replace the oath which was proposed during the debates on the measure and warmly discussed by the contending parties. The act likewise repealed the oath of supremacy imposed in the reign of William and Mary, as well as various declarations and disabilities, and it tolerated the schools and religious worship of Roman Catholics. He was a determined opponent of the royal veto of the appointment of bishops.
St. Edmund's College, Old Hall Green, owed its existence to Douglass, with its president Gregory Stapleton settling there with his students at his invitation from 15 August 1795, after their imprisonment during the French Revolution. Douglass also had to deal with the influx of French Catholics fleeing the Reign of Terror. By 1794, there were 1,500 French priests in London, for whom Douglass established eight French chapels. Most of the French clergy returned to France by 1805. He censured the Blanchardists who refused to accept the Concordat.[2]
Douglass was one of the first members of the "Roman Catholic Meeting", organised in May 1794 in opposition to the Cisalpine Club. John Milner submitted his Letters to a Prebendary to Douglass for revision. Douglass erased nearly one-half of the original contents before sending it back to the author, who printed the work in its curtailed form.
Douglass died at his residence in Castle Street, Holborn, on 8 May 1812. William Poynter, who had been appointed his coadjutor in 1803, succeeded him in the vicariate-apostolic of the London district.
Worksedit
An account by Douglass of the state of the catholic religion in his vicariate in 1796 is printed in Brady's Episcopal Succession, iii. 180 seq. He published some charges and several pastorals, two of which were translated into Spanish. He also for many years published "A New Year's Gift" in the Laity's Directory.
Referencesedit
^Havard, Lewis (1812). "The Funeral Oration". Funeral oration pronounced at the obsequies of the late Right Rev. Doctor Jogn Douglass – via Google Books.
^ abcWard, Bernard (1905). Catholic London a Century Ago. Catholic Truth Society. p. 62 – via Google Books.
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Not to be confused with John Douglas bishop of Salisbury or John Douglas archbishop of St Andrews John Douglass December 1743 8 May 1812 was an English Roman Catholic bishop who was the Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1790 until his death in 1812 The Right ReverendJohn DouglassVicar Apostolic of the London DistrictChurchRoman Catholic ChurchAppointed10 September 1790Term ended8 May 1812PredecessorJames Robert TalbotSuccessorWilliam PoynterOther post s Titular Bishop of CenturiaOrdersConsecration19 December 1790by William GibsonPersonal detailsBornDecember 1743 1743 12 Yarm YorkshireDied8 May 1812 1812 05 08 aged 68 NationalityEnglishDenominationRoman Catholic Contents 1 Life 1 1 Vicar apostolic 2 Works 3 ReferencesLife editThe son of John Douglass and Brigit Senson or Semson he was born at Yarm Yorkshire in December 1743 and at the age of thirteen he was sent to the English College Douai 1 There he took the college oath in 1764 He went to the English College in Valladolid as professor of humanities arriving there 27 June 1768 At a later period he taught philosophy Suffering from poor health he left Valladolid on 30 July 1773 and was priest of the mission of Linton and afterwards at York 2 Vicar apostolic edit While he was a missioner at York he was selected by the Holy See for the London vicariate in opposition to efforts made by the catholic committee to have Charles Berington translated from the Midland to the London district The appointment caused controversy and Berington addressed a printed letter to the London clergy resigning every pretension to the London vicariate Opposition to Douglass was withdrawn and he succeeded James Talbot as vicar apostolic of the London district His briefs to the titular see of Centurio were dated 25 September 1790 and he was consecrated 19 December the same year in St Mary s Church Lulworth Castle Dorset by William Gibson titular bishop of Acanthus and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District The London District included the home counties the West Indies with the exception of Trinidad and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey 2 The Catholic Relief Act passed in June 1791 repealed the statutes of recusancy in favour of persons taking the Irish oath of allegiance of 1778 It was Douglass who suggested that this oath should replace the oath which was proposed during the debates on the measure and warmly discussed by the contending parties The act likewise repealed the oath of supremacy imposed in the reign of William and Mary as well as various declarations and disabilities and it tolerated the schools and religious worship of Roman Catholics He was a determined opponent of the royal veto of the appointment of bishops St Edmund s College Old Hall Green owed its existence to Douglass with its president Gregory Stapleton settling there with his students at his invitation from 15 August 1795 after their imprisonment during the French Revolution Douglass also had to deal with the influx of French Catholics fleeing the Reign of Terror By 1794 there were 1 500 French priests in London for whom Douglass established eight French chapels Most of the French clergy returned to France by 1805 He censured the Blanchardists who refused to accept the Concordat 2 Douglass was one of the first members of the Roman Catholic Meeting organised in May 1794 in opposition to the Cisalpine Club John Milner submitted his Letters to a Prebendary to Douglass for revision Douglass erased nearly one half of the original contents before sending it back to the author who printed the work in its curtailed form Douglass died at his residence in Castle Street Holborn on 8 May 1812 William Poynter who had been appointed his coadjutor in 1803 succeeded him in the vicariate apostolic of the London district Works editAn account by Douglass of the state of the catholic religion in his vicariate in 1796 is printed in Brady s Episcopal Succession iii 180 seq He published some charges and several pastorals two of which were translated into Spanish He also for many years published A New Year s Gift in the Laity s Directory References edit Havard Lewis 1812 The Funeral Oration Funeral oration pronounced at the obsequies of the late Right Rev Doctor Jogn Douglass via Google Books a b c Ward Bernard 1905 Catholic London a Century Ago Catholic Truth Society p 62 via Google Books nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Douglass John Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Catholic Church titles Preceded byJames Robert Talbot Vicar Apostolic of the London District1790 1812 Succeeded byWilliam Poynter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Douglass bishop amp oldid 1167398449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
