Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1501-1847 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
49 vols and 38 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Vicariate Apostolic of the London District was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England, 1688-1850. There were four Catholic jurisdictions in England and Wales: the London District, the Western District, the Midland District and the Northern District.
The Vicars Apostolic of the London District were:
Bishop John Leyburn, (1688-1702), formerly Vicar Apostolic of England (1685-1688)
Bishop Bonaventure Giffard, (1703-1734)
Bishop Benjamin Petre, (1734-1758)
Bishop Richard Challoner, (1758-1791)
Bishop James Robert Talbot, (1781-1789)
Bishop John Douglass, (1790-1812)
Bishop William Poynter, (1812-1827)
Bishop James Yorke Bramston, (1878-1836)
Bishop Thomas Griffiths, (1836-1847)
Bishop Thomas Walsh, (1847-1849)
Bishop Nicholas Wiseman, (1849-1850), later Archbishop.
Repository
Archival history
The material was bound in 49 volumes over the period 1880-1912.
GB 0122 Series A 1501-1847 Series 49 vols and 38 boxes Vicars Apostolic of the London District
The Vicariate Apostolic of the London District was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England, 1688-1850. There were four Catholic jurisdictions in England and Wales: the London District, the Western District, the Midland District and the Northern District.
The Vicars Apostolic of the London District were:
Bishop John Leyburn, (1688-1702), formerly Vicar Apostolic of England (1685-1688)
Bishop Bonaventure Giffard, (1703-1734)
Bishop Benjamin Petre, (1734-1758)
Bishop Richard Challoner, (1758-1791)
Bishop James Robert Talbot, (1781-1789)
Bishop John Douglass, (1790-1812)
Bishop William Poynter, (1812-1827)
Bishop James Yorke Bramston, (1878-1836)
Bishop Thomas Griffiths, (1836-1847)
Bishop Thomas Walsh, (1847-1849)
Bishop Nicholas Wiseman, (1849-1850), later Archbishop.
The material was bound in 49 volumes over the period 1880-1912.
Received by the archive from Archbishop's House.
Pre-reformation papers and papers of the English Secular Clergy, 1501-1688 and papers of the Vicars Apostolic of the London District, 1688-1847.
The papers chiefly comprise correspondence with the Roman agent; papers relating to Synods; copies of Pastorals; correspondence with Vicars Apostolic and clergy from the Western, Midland and Northern Districts and Scotland; correspondence with Irish Bishops; correspondence with institutions of the English Catholic diaspora; correspondence with Bishops and clergy abroad notably with the Catholic Church in the British colonies; legal papers including wills, bequests, leases and trusts and papers of institutions of the English Catholic diaspora including Douai College, 1652-1789; St Omers College, 1762-1772; the English College Rome, 1701-1783; the English College Lisbon, 1708-1791; the English Seminary Paris (also known as St Gregory's, Paris), 1762-1777 and student register for the English College Lisbon, 1628-1715.
The papers of the Vicars Apostolic of the London District include papers from the episcopacy of Bishop John Leyburn, 1688-1702, Bishop Bonaventure Giffard, 1703-1734; Bishop Benjamin Petre, 1734-1758; Bishop Richard Challoner, 1758-1781; Bishop James Robert Talbot, 1781-1789; Bishop John Douglass, 1791-1798; Bishop William Poynter, 1812-1827; Bishop James Yorke Bramston, 1828-1836 and Bishop Thomas Griffiths, 1836-1847.
Highlights of the collection include: a consultation about the dowry of Catherine of Aragon, c 1509; copy of a letter from Mary Queen of Scots, c 1586; letter from St Henry Walpole to Father Persons, 13 Nov 1593; chart of the Royal succession down to James VI of Scotland as published in Father Persons' book on the succession, 1593; letters of Cardinal William Allen; letter from Father Henry Garnet relating to the Gunpowder Plot, c 1605 and a petition from the Citizens of London to Charles I complaining about Popery, 1640.
The majority of the papers from 1501-1798 are bound in 49 volumes. The volumes are arranged chronologically until 1700, subsequently they are arranged in volumes according to Bishop or College. Papers from 1798 onwards are unbound and arranged by Bishop (Douglass, Poynter, Bramston and Wiseman) and divided into sub series.
Open for consultation by appointment only between 12:00 - 5:00, Mondays and Wednesdays. Call: 0207 938 3580 or email: archivist@rcdow.org.uk for appointments.
Copies, subject to condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only on the undertaking of a copyright declaration. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Westminster Roman Cathlic Diocesan Trustees.
Latin, English and French.
A list of contents can be found in the front of each volume; these were created when the material was bound. Detailed lists for volumes 38-49 and the papers of Bishops Poynter and Bramston, and an index for volumes 38-42, are available in the archive's reading room.
Papers of Archbishop Nicholas Wiseman, Vicar Apolistic, 1849-1850, (Ref no: W).
Series B contains supplementary material to Series A.
Further material on the Paris Seminary can be found in Series C.
Newsletters from the Archpresbyterate of George Birkhead, ed. M C Questier, Camden Fifth Series, volume 12, (Royal Historical Society, 1998).
Newsletters from the Caroline Court, 1631-1638, ed ed. M C Questier, Camden Fifth Series, volume 26, (Royal Historical Society, 2005).
The Early Vicars Apostolic of England 1685-1750, Dom Basil Hemphill, (Burns & Oates, London, 1953).
The Diaries of Bishop William Poynter, VA (1815-1824) Canon Peter Phillips (Catholic Record Society, London, 2006).
Compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Dom Basil Hemphill, The Early Vicars Apostolic of England 1685-1750,( Burns & Oates, London, 1953).
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names 1997.
Sep 2008 Allen , William , 1532-1594 , cardinal Ancient religions Bramston , James Yorke , 1763-1836 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Catherine , 1485-1536 , of Aragon , consort of King Henry VIII Catholicism Catholics Challoner , Richard , 1691-1781 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Charles I , 1600-1649 , King of Great Britain and Ireland Christian education Christianity Christians College of St Omer Counter-Reformation Denominational schools Douglass , John , [1743]-1812 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District England English College , Douai x St Edmund's College , Ware English College , Lisbon Europe Garnett , Henry , 1555-1606 , Jesuit Giffard , Bonaventure , 1642-1734 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Griffiths , Thomas , 1791-1847 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Henry VIII , 1491-1547 , King of England and Ireland Jesuits Leyburn , John , 1620-1702 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District London Mary , 1542-1567 , Queen of Scots Persons , Robert , 1546-1610 , Jesuit Petre , Benjamin , 1672-1758 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Poynter , William , 1762-1827 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District Reformation Religion Religions Religious activities Religious communities Religious conflicts Religious discrimination Religious education Religious groups Religious institutions Religious movements Religious practice Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholics Schools Social science education Society of Jesus St Gregory's , Paris Talbot , James Robert , 1726-1790 , Vicar Apostolic of the London District UK Venerable English College , Rome Vicariate Apostolic of the London District Walpole , Henry ,[1558]-1595), Saint , Jesuit and martyr Western Europe Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Received by the archive from Archbishop's House.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Pre-reformation papers and papers of the English Secular Clergy, 1501-1688 and papers of the Vicars Apostolic of the London District, 1688-1847.
The papers chiefly comprise correspondence with the Roman agent; papers relating to Synods; copies of Pastorals; correspondence with Vicars Apostolic and clergy from the Western, Midland and Northern Districts and Scotland; correspondence with Irish Bishops; correspondence with institutions of the English Catholic diaspora; correspondence with Bishops and clergy abroad notably with the Catholic Church in the British colonies; legal papers including wills, bequests, leases and trusts and papers of institutions of the English Catholic diaspora including Douai College, 1652-1789; St Omers College, 1762-1772; the English College Rome, 1701-1783; the English College Lisbon, 1708-1791; the English Seminary Paris (also known as St Gregory's, Paris), 1762-1777 and student register for the English College Lisbon, 1628-1715.
The papers of the Vicars Apostolic of the London District include papers from the episcopacy of Bishop John Leyburn, 1688-1702, Bishop Bonaventure Giffard, 1703-1734; Bishop Benjamin Petre, 1734-1758; Bishop Richard Challoner, 1758-1781; Bishop James Robert Talbot, 1781-1789; Bishop John Douglass, 1791-1798; Bishop William Poynter, 1812-1827; Bishop James Yorke Bramston, 1828-1836 and Bishop Thomas Griffiths, 1836-1847.
Highlights of the collection include: a consultation about the dowry of Catherine of Aragon, c 1509; copy of a letter from Mary Queen of Scots, c 1586; letter from St Henry Walpole to Father Persons, 13 Nov 1593; chart of the Royal succession down to James VI of Scotland as published in Father Persons' book on the succession, 1593; letters of Cardinal William Allen; letter from Father Henry Garnet relating to the Gunpowder Plot, c 1605 and a petition from the Citizens of London to Charles I complaining about Popery, 1640.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The majority of the papers from 1501-1798 are bound in 49 volumes. The volumes are arranged chronologically until 1700, subsequently they are arranged in volumes according to Bishop or College. Papers from 1798 onwards are unbound and arranged by Bishop (Douglass, Poynter, Bramston and Wiseman) and divided into sub series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for consultation by appointment only between 12:00 - 5:00, Mondays and Wednesdays. Call: 0207 938 3580 or email: archivist@rcdow.org.uk for appointments.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only on the undertaking of a copyright declaration. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Westminster Roman Cathlic Diocesan Trustees.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Latin, English and French.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Papers of Archbishop Nicholas Wiseman, Vicar Apolistic, 1849-1850, (Ref no: W).
Series B contains supplementary material to Series A.
Further material on the Paris Seminary can be found in Series C.
Finding aids
A list of contents can be found in the front of each volume; these were created when the material was bound. Detailed lists for volumes 38-49 and the papers of Bishops Poynter and Bramston, and an index for volumes 38-42, are available in the archive's reading room.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity » Catholicism
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- Religious groups » Christians
- Schools » Denominational schools
- Religion
- Religions
- Religious activities
- Religious institutions » Religious communities
- Religion » Religious conflicts
- Religion » Religious discrimination
- Social science education » Religious education
- Religious groups
- Religious institutions
- Religious institutions » Religious movements
- Religious activities » Religious practice
- Schools
- Social science education
- Educational institutions
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English