Ambrose Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Dom
Ambrose Griffiths, OSB
, KC*HS
(4 December 1928 – 14 June 2011) was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and a Benedictine
abbot.
Born Michael Griffiths in Twickenham
, Middlesex
, and educated at Ampleforth College
, near York, and at Balliol College, Oxford
, he entered the monastery at Ampleforth, taking the religious name of Ambrose, and was ordained to the priesthood on 21 July 1957. In 1976, following the appointment of Abbot
Basil Hume as Archbishop of Westminster
, Dom Ambrose was elected Abbot of Ampleforth, a post he held until 1984 when he became Parish Priest of Leyland
, Preston, Lancashire (Archdiocese of Liverpool
), when he received the title of Abbot of Westminster.
In 1991 Bishop Hugh Lindsay
announced his intention to resign the See of Hexham and Newcastle on the grounds of ill health. His resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II, who in turn appointed Abbot Ambrose Griffiths as eleventh Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
. He received episcopal ordination in St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, on 20 March 1992, the feast of St. Cuthbert, co-patron of the diocese. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool, who was assisted by retiring Bishop Bishop Hugh Lindsay and Bishop Owen Swindlehurst
, Auxiliary Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and titular Bishop of Cuncacestre.
Auxiliary Bishop Swindlehurst died on 28 August 1995 and was not replaced, leaving Bishop Griffiths to administer the diocese without the assistance of any auxiliary. He implemented a number of changes to the structure of the diocese in order to ease transition to a new model of administration, and these measures included appointing new Vicars General to assist the Bishop. Throughout his tenure, Bishop Griffiths worked closely with young people, establishing a Youth Mission Team in the diocese and representating young members of the faithful in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
.
He served as leader of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle for twelve years until he himself submitted his resignation to the Pope, having reached the age limit for bishops of 75 years, prescribed in the Code of Canon Law. His resignation was accepted and he retired on 25 May 2004. Among his final duties, he presided at the episcopal ordination of his successor as diocesan bishop, Kevin Dunn
, on the same date, the feast of St. Bede the Venerable. Griffiths retired to St Mary's parish in Leyland
, Preston, Lancashire and continued in his work as a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
He died in the afternoon of 14 June 2011, aged 82.
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Ambrose Griffiths, OSB
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, KC*HS
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
(4 December 1928 – 14 June 2011) was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbot.
Born Michael Griffiths in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, and educated at Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
, near York, and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, he entered the monastery at Ampleforth, taking the religious name of Ambrose, and was ordained to the priesthood on 21 July 1957. In 1976, following the appointment of Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
Basil Hume as Archbishop of Westminster
Archbishop of Westminster
The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman...
, Dom Ambrose was elected Abbot of Ampleforth, a post he held until 1984 when he became Parish Priest of Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
, Preston, Lancashire (Archdiocese of Liverpool
Archdiocese of Liverpool
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite, of the Roman Catholic church in England. The episcopal see is the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, located in Liverpool. The Archdiocese covers the south west of the traditional county of Lancashire...
), when he received the title of Abbot of Westminster.
In 1991 Bishop Hugh Lindsay
Bishop Hugh Lindsay
Hugh Lindsay was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.Hugh Lindsay was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 20 June 1927. He was educated at St Cuthbert's Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Ushaw College, Durham...
announced his intention to resign the See of Hexham and Newcastle on the grounds of ill health. His resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II, who in turn appointed Abbot Ambrose Griffiths as eleventh Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
. He received episcopal ordination in St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, on 20 March 1992, the feast of St. Cuthbert, co-patron of the diocese. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool, who was assisted by retiring Bishop Bishop Hugh Lindsay and Bishop Owen Swindlehurst
Owen Swindlehurst
The Right Reverend Owen Francis Swindlehurst was Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and Titular Bishop of Cuncacestre under Bishops Hugh Lindsay and Ambrose Griffiths from 1977 until his death.Born at Newburn, he studied in Rome and was ordained to the...
, Auxiliary Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and titular Bishop of Cuncacestre.
Auxiliary Bishop Swindlehurst died on 28 August 1995 and was not replaced, leaving Bishop Griffiths to administer the diocese without the assistance of any auxiliary. He implemented a number of changes to the structure of the diocese in order to ease transition to a new model of administration, and these measures included appointing new Vicars General to assist the Bishop. Throughout his tenure, Bishop Griffiths worked closely with young people, establishing a Youth Mission Team in the diocese and representating young members of the faithful in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is the episcopal conference of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.-About:...
.
He served as leader of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle for twelve years until he himself submitted his resignation to the Pope, having reached the age limit for bishops of 75 years, prescribed in the Code of Canon Law. His resignation was accepted and he retired on 25 May 2004. Among his final duties, he presided at the episcopal ordination of his successor as diocesan bishop, Kevin Dunn
Kevin John Dunn
The Right Reverend Kevin John Dunn was the 12th Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Early life:Kevin Dunn was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire on 9 July 1950 and educated at St Mary's Primary School and St Patrick's Secondary School, both in Newcastle-under-Lyme...
, on the same date, the feast of St. Bede the Venerable. Griffiths retired to St Mary's parish in Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
, Preston, Lancashire and continued in his work as a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
He died in the afternoon of 14 June 2011, aged 82.