List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to the Holy See
Encyclopedia
The Ambassador from the United Kingdom to the Holy See has held that title since 1982. Before that the British heads of mission to the Holy See
were styled Attaché resident at Rome and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
in 1534, after the Act of Supremacy
of that year declared that King Henry VIII
was "the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England". This break continued throughout the remaining existence of the Kingdom of England and its successor the Kingdom of Great Britain
(1707-1800). However, after the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
an "unofficial official" was kept in Rome from the mid-nineteenth century, holding the title of representative to the Papal States
. With the rise of Italian nationalism
, the Papal States were conquered by the House of Savoy
and and a unified Kingdom of Italy
was declared in 1861. In 1874, due to the Roman Question
, the Conservative government withdrew this representative, reasoning that it was not cost-effective to maintain a representative to a "non-existent state". Missions between 1874 and 1914 were designated "special and temporary".
In 1914 the United Kingdom formally re-established diplomatic relations with the Holy See. A minister was sent to the papal court during the First World War
to court the favour of the Pope towards the Triple Entente
. This mission was maintained after the war for the perceived value of its prestige (a "quiet place for a not very distinguished diplomat") and the conflicts in Ireland, Malta, Quebec, and Australia, which had Roman Catholic dimensions. As troubles in Malta
escalated, the post was filled with more experienced and respected diplomats.
From 1914 to 1982, the diplomatic representative of the United Kingdom to the Holy See had the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, partly because there was already a British ambassador in Rome to Italy
. The British envoy to the Holy See was first permitted to bear the title of "Ambassador" in 1982 and has held that title since then. The Minister was always a Protestant.
As of 2011, Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See is currently His Excellency
Nigel Marcus Baker
.
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...
were styled Attaché resident at Rome and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
History of representation
Diplomatic relations were broken off between the Pope and the Kingdom of EnglandKingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
in 1534, after the Act of Supremacy
Acts of Supremacy
The first Act of Supremacy was a piece of legislation that granted King Henry VIII of England Royal Supremacy, which means that he was declared the supreme head of the Church of England. It is still the legal authority of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
of that year declared that King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
was "the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England". This break continued throughout the remaining existence of the Kingdom of England and its successor the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
(1707-1800). However, after the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
an "unofficial official" was kept in Rome from the mid-nineteenth century, holding the title of representative to the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
. With the rise of Italian nationalism
Italian nationalism
Italian nationalism refers to the nationalism of Italians or of Italian culture. It claims that Italians are the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic descendants of the ancient Romans who inhabited the Italian Peninsula for centuries. The origins of Italian nationalism have been traced to the...
, the Papal States were conquered by the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
and and a unified Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
was declared in 1861. In 1874, due to the Roman Question
Roman Question
thumb|300px|The breach of [[Porta Pia]], on the right, in a contemporaneous photograph.The Roman Question was a political dispute between the Italian Government and the Papacy from 1861 to 1929....
, the Conservative government withdrew this representative, reasoning that it was not cost-effective to maintain a representative to a "non-existent state". Missions between 1874 and 1914 were designated "special and temporary".
In 1914 the United Kingdom formally re-established diplomatic relations with the Holy See. A minister was sent to the papal court during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to court the favour of the Pope towards the Triple Entente
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907....
. This mission was maintained after the war for the perceived value of its prestige (a "quiet place for a not very distinguished diplomat") and the conflicts in Ireland, Malta, Quebec, and Australia, which had Roman Catholic dimensions. As troubles in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
escalated, the post was filled with more experienced and respected diplomats.
From 1914 to 1982, the diplomatic representative of the United Kingdom to the Holy See had the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, partly because there was already a British ambassador in Rome to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The British envoy to the Holy See was first permitted to bear the title of "Ambassador" in 1982 and has held that title since then. The Minister was always a Protestant.
As of 2011, Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See is currently His Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
Nigel Marcus Baker
Attachés resident at Rome
The United Kingdom was represented at Rome by an Attaché to the legation at Florence resident at RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
- 1832-1844: Thomas Aubin
- 1844-1853: William Petre
Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary
- 1863–1867: Hon. Sir Henry Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound
- 1914–1916: Sir Henry Howard
- 1916–1923 John Francis Charles, 7th Count de Salis-SoglioJohn Francis Charles, 7th Count de Salis-SoglioSir John Francis Charles de Salis, 7th Count de Salis, KCMG, CVO was a British diplomat and landowner.He was the eldest son of Count John Francis William de Salis , a diplomat and renowned numismaticist of Hillingdon, by his wife Amelia Frances Harriet , daughter of Christopher Tower, JP DL MP, of...
- 1922–1928: Hon. Sir Odo Russell
- 1928–1930: Sir Henry ChiltonHenry ChiltonSir Henry Getty Chilton , C.M.G. was a British diplomat to Spain during the Spanish Civil War.On arriving in Buenos Aires in September 1933 from his Embassy in Chile, Sir Henry Chilton opened a lengthy and increasingly desperate negotiation with London about the state of his official...
Chargé d’Affaires
- 1930–1932: George Ogilvie-Forbes
- 1932–1933: Sir Ivone KirkpatrickIvone KirkpatrickHis Excellency Sir Ivone Augustine Kirkpatrick GCB, GCMG was a British diplomat who served most notably as the British High Commissioner in Germany after the war, and as the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office -Summary:Kirkpatrick left school to join the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers...
Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary
- 1933–1934: Sir Robert CliveRobert Clive (diplomat)Sir Robert Henry Clive GCMG, PC , was a British diplomat.-Early life:Clive was the son of Charles Meysey Bolton Clive and the great-grandson of Edward Clive. His mother was Lady Katherine Elizabeth Mary Julia, daughter of William Feilding, 7th Earl of Denbigh. He was educated at Haileybury College...
- 1934–1936: Sir Charles Wingfield
- 1936–1947: Sir D'Arcy Osborne
- 1947–1951: Sir John Victor Thomas Woolrych Talt Perowne
- 1951–1954: Sir Walter Roberts
- 1954–1957: Sir Douglas Howard
- 1957–1960: Sir Marcus Cheke
- 1960–1965: Sir Peter Scarlett
- 1965–1970: Sir Michael Williams
- 1970–1975: Desmond Crawley
- 1975–1977: Dugald MalcolmDugald MalcolmCaptain Dugald Malcolm, CMG CVO TD , was a British diplomat, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See 1975-1977.Malcolm was born in 1917, and educated at Eton College and the University of Oxford...
- 1978–1980: Geoffrey Crossley
- 1980–1982: Sir Mark HeathMark Evelyn HeathSir Mark Heath, KCVO CMG , a British diplomat, was Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See 1980-1982, and the first Ambassador to the Holy See, 1982-1985....
Ambassadors
- 1982–1985: Sir Mark HeathMark Evelyn HeathSir Mark Heath, KCVO CMG , a British diplomat, was Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See 1980-1982, and the first Ambassador to the Holy See, 1982-1985....
- 1985–1988: David Lane
- 1988–1991: John Broadley
- 1991–1995: Andrew PalmerAndrew PalmerAndrew Palmer, CMG CVO, a British diplomat, was Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See 1991-1995.Palmer was Ambassador to Cuba 1986-1988, and Private Secretary to TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent 1988-1990. He retired from the Diplomatic Service, which he joined in 1961, in 1995...
- 1995–1998: Maureen MacGlashanMaureen MacGlashanMaureen Elizabeth MacGlashan, CMG was Assistant Director of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law from 1986-1990 and is now a Fellow of the Centre....
- 1998–2002: Mark PellewMark PellewMark Pellew, CVO , a British diplomat, was Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See 1998-2002.Pellew was previously Head of the North American Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office , and had earlier been on secondment to Hambros Bank , and a Counsellor in Washington .Earlier...
- 2002–2005: Kathryn ColvinKathryn ColvinKathryn Colvin, CVO was Her Majesty's Vice Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2001. She was Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See 2001 to 2005....
- 2005–2011: Francis Campbell
- 2011–2011: George Edgar (as Chargé d'Affaires)
- 2011–present: Nigel Marcus Baker