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The Reluctant Prior: Bishop Wulstan Pearson of Lancaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2015

René Kollar O.S.B.
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Extract

Although the Irish accounted for a large proportion of the English Roman Catholic Church during the opening decades of the twentieth century, the Church ‘was led by Englishmen too and mostly pretty local ones.’ Bourne, McIntyre, Leighton Williams, Henshaw, Thorman, and Singleton represent a few of the native sons who eventually became prelates of their local sees. Likewise, Thomas Wulstan Pearson (1870–1938), born in Preston, was appointed the first bishop of the Diocese of Lancaster in 1925. Dom Wulstan had previously served in the Benedictine parish in Liverpool, an assignment which he cherished. Asked to leave this northern post to become the first prior of Downside Abbey’S foundation at Ealing, he unsuccessfully tried to resist. Reluctantly and with serious reservations he followed his abbot’s wishes and moved south. His years as the superior of this young priory, however, represent a traumatic break with the sense of personal fulfulment he experienced in Liverpool, but the barren and trying years also served to strengthen his longing and commitment to the pastoral ministry.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Catholic History , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , May 1991 , pp. 403 - 413
Copyright
Copyright © Catholic Record Society 1973

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References

Notes

1 Hastings, A., A History of English Christianity 1920–1985 (London: 1986), p. 138.Google Scholar For additional characteristics and similarities of the English bishops during the first century after the restoration of the hierarchy see Hughes, P. ‘The Bishops of the Century,’ in G. A. Beck, ed. The English Catholics 1850–1950 (London: 1950), pp. 187–222.Google Scholar

2 See Kollar, R., Westminster Cathedral: From Dream to Reality (Edinburgh: 1987)Google Scholar.

3 Butler to Ford, 16 May 1902, Ford Papers, Ealing Abbey Archives, (henceforth EAA), London.

4 Butler, ‘Ealing Comprehensive Statement,’ 1916, Ford Papers, EAA.

5 Report of the Ealing Committee, 1916, Ealing Papers, Downside Abbey Archives, (henceforth DAA), Bath.

6 Suggestions Re Ealing Priory and School, 1916, Ford Papers, EAA.

7 Butler to the English Benedictines, 28 July 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

8 Green to Butler, 29 July 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

9 Rylance to Butler, 29 July 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

10 Goolden to Butler, July 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

11 ‘Obituary: Dom Wulstan Pearson,’ Downside Review, January 1939, p. 1.

12 Butler to Pearson, 7 August 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

13 Pearson to Butler, 8 August 1916, Pearson Papers, EAA.

14 Pearson to Butler, 9 August 1916, Pearson Papers, EAA.

15 Butler to Pearson, 11 August, 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

16 Pearson to Butler, 12 August 1916, Pearson Papers, EAA.

17 Butler to Pearson, 13 August 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

18 Pearson to Butler, 14 August 1916, Pearson Papers, EAA.

19 ‘Odds and Ends,’ Downside Review, July 1916, p. 161.

20 Butler to Bourne, 17 August 1961, Butler Papers, EAA.

21 Bourne to Butler, 19 August 1916, Butler Papers, EAA.

22 Butler to Pearson, 3 April 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

23 Pearson to Butler, April 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

24 Pearson to Butler, June 1917, Pearson Papers, EAA.

25 Pearson to Butler, 5 January 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

26 Huddleston to Butler, 2 March 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

27 Butler to Pearson, 24 June 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

28 Butler to Pearson, 22 August 1917, Butler Papers, EAA.

29 Pearson to Butler, August 1917, Pearson Papers, EAA.

30 Pearson to Butler, 9 December 1917, Pearson Papers, EAA.

31 Pearson to Butler, 22 January 1918, Butler Papers, EAA.

32 Quoted in Knowles, D., The Historian and Character and Other Essays (Cambridge, 1963), p. 313.Google Scholar

33 Butler to Pearson, 7 January 1918, Butler Papers, DAA.

34 Pearson to Butler, 8 January 1918, Butler Papers, EAA.

35 Butler to Pearson, 11 December 1918, Butler Papers, EAA.

36 ‘The First Bishop of Lancaster,’ Downside Review, May 1925, p. 85.

37 Pearson to Ramsey, 26 December 1924, Ramsey Papers, DAA.