William Bernard Ullathorne


William Bernard Ullathorne was an English prelate who held high offices in the Roman Catholic Church during the nineteenth century.

Early life

Ullathorne was born in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, the eldest of ten children of William Ullathorne and Hannah, who converted to Roman Catholicism when she married. When he was nine years of age, Ullathorne's family relocated to Scarborough, where he began his schooling. He was a descendant of Saint Thomas More through his great-grandmother, Mary More.

Priesthood

In 1823 Ullathorne entered the monastery of Downside Abbey, taking the vows in 1825, taking the additional name "Bernard", after Bernard of Clairvaux. He was ordained priest in 1831, and in 1832 went to New South Wales as vicar-general to Bishop William Placid Morris, whose jurisdiction extended over the Australian missions. It was mainly Ullathorne who caused Pope Gregory XVI to establish the hierarchy in Australia. In 1836, Bede Polding sent Ullathorne back to Britain, to recruit more Benedictines. While in England, he visited Ireland, where he met Mary Aikenhead. He returned to Australia in 1838 with five Sisters of Charity. Ullathorne returned to England in 1841, suffering what Judith F Champ says would in modern terminology be described as "burnout". He then took charge of the Roman Catholic mission at Coventry, where he recovered his health and spirits.
Ullathorne had turned down bishoprics in Hobart, Adelaide, and Perth as he did not wish to return to Australia. In 1847 he was consecrated bishop as Vicar Apostolic of the Western District, in succession to Bishop C.M. Baggs, but was transferred to the Central District in the following year. Ullathorne helped found St Osburg's Church in Coventry.

Bishop of Birmingham

On the re-establishment of the hierarchy in England and Wales, he became the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham. During his nearly four decades of tenure at the see 67 new churches, 32 convents and nearly 200 mission schools were built. In 1888 he retired and received from Pope Leo XIII the honorary title of Archbishop of Cabasa. He died at Oscott College and his monument is in the crypt of St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham, although he was buried in the sanctuary of the Church of St Dominic and the Immaculate Conception at Stone, Staffordshire. There is Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School in Coventry which is named after him.

Works

Of Ullathorne's theological and philosophical works, the best known are: The Endowments of Man, The Groundwork of the Christian Virtues, Christian Patience. For an account of his life see his Autobiography, edited by A. T. Drane.
  • , Dublin: Richard Coyne, 1840.
  • , London: T. Jones, 1842.
  • , London: Charles Dolman, 1843.
  • , London: Thomas Richardson and Son, 1850.
  • , London: Richardson and Son, 1855.
  • , London: Thomas Richardson and Son, 1863.
  • , London: Burns, Oates, and Company, 1871.
  • , London: Thomas Richardson and Son, 1874.
  • , London: Burns & Oates, 1880.
  • , Burns & Oates, 1882.
  • , London: Burns & Gates, Limited, 1886.