Alan Charles Clark
Encyclopedia
Alan Charles Clark was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia
in the Ecclesiastical Province
of Westminster, England.
, Kent
on 9 August 1919, he was the son of parents who converted from Anglicanism
to Roman Catholicism. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on 11 February 1945.
of Northampton
and Titular Bishop of Elmhama by the Holy See
on 31 March 1969. Two months later, he was formally consecrated
to the Episcopate
on 13 May 1969. The principal consecrator
was Bishop Charles Alexander Grant
of Northampton, and the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Cyril Conrad Cowderoy
of Southwark and Archbishop John Aloysius Murphy
of Cardiff. He also became co-chairman of the Anglican—Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).
On 13 March 1976, the new Diocese of East Anglia
was established, and Alan Clark was appointed its first bishop on 26 April 1976 and installed at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich
on 2 June 1976. As the bishop of the new diocese, Alan Clark had to set up all the necessary instruments and commissions for the diocese to operate successfully. Following his 75th birthday in August 1994, he retired on 21 March 1995 and assumed the title Bishop Emeritus
of East Anglia. On 2 June 2001, Bishop Clark celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his installation as the first Bishop of the Diocese.
He died on 16 July 2002, aged 82.
Bishop of East Anglia
The Bishop of East Anglia is the Ordinary of the modern Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia in the Province of Westminster, England.At present the see is vacant...
in the Ecclesiastical Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Westminster, England.
Early life
Born in BickleyBickley
Bickley is an affluent residential area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is a suburban development situated 10.4 miles south east of Charing Cross...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 9 August 1919, he was the son of parents who converted from Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
to Roman Catholicism. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 11 February 1945.
Episcopal career
He was appointed an Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Northampton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton
The Diocese of Northampton is one of the 22 Roman Catholic dioceses in England and Wales and a Latin Rite suffragan diocese of Westminster. Its see is in Northampton...
and Titular Bishop of Elmhama by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 31 March 1969. Two months later, he was formally consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
to the Episcopate
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
on 13 May 1969. The principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Bishop Charles Alexander Grant
Charles Alexander Grant
Charles Alexander Grant was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Northampton from 1967 to 1982....
of Northampton, and the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Cyril Conrad Cowderoy
Cyril Conrad Cowderoy
Archbishop Cyril Conrad Cowderoy was a priest for over 45 years and a bishop for over 26 years in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.Born in Sidcup on 5 May 1905, he was consecrated and ordained as parish priest in Southwark on 30 May 1931 by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin and Bishops Beck...
of Southwark and Archbishop John Aloysius Murphy
John Aloysius Murphy
John Aloysius Murphy was a Roman Catholic Church prelate who served firstly as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1949 to 1961, then as the Archbishop of Cardiff from 1961 to 1983....
of Cardiff. He also became co-chairman of the Anglican—Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).
On 13 March 1976, the new Diocese of East Anglia
Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia
The Diocese of East Anglia is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church covering the counties of Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk and also Peterborough in eastern England. The East Anglia diocese makes up part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage....
was established, and Alan Clark was appointed its first bishop on 26 April 1976 and installed at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich
St John the Baptist Cathedral, Norwich
The Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England.The Cathedral, located on Earlham Road, was constructed between 1882 and 1910 to designs by George Gilbert Scott, Jr...
on 2 June 1976. As the bishop of the new diocese, Alan Clark had to set up all the necessary instruments and commissions for the diocese to operate successfully. Following his 75th birthday in August 1994, he retired on 21 March 1995 and assumed the title Bishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of East Anglia. On 2 June 2001, Bishop Clark celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his installation as the first Bishop of the Diocese.
He died on 16 July 2002, aged 82.