| dc.description.abstract | The thesis aims to chart the development of the Diocese of Nottingham from
1850 to 1915, and through a comparison with the historiography of the period, to show
how far it correlates with the accepted norms of nineteenth and early twentieth century
Catholic development. Methodologically, the thesis aims to pioneer an in-depth
integrated study on the development of the Diocese of Nottingham from 1850 to 1915, a
largely unstudied area as far as Catholics and Catholicism is concerned. The period
studied commences with the Restoration of the Hierarchy, (1850), and terminates with
the resignation of Bishop Brindle in 1915. There is a unity in the period chosen as it
encompasses the Episcopacies of one Diocesan Administrator, Bishop William Bernard
Ullathorne (1850-1, who was concurrently Bishop of Birmingham), and Bishop Joseph
William Hendren, (1851-3), Bishop Richard Roskell (1853-74), Bishop Edward
Bagshawe (1874-1901), and Bishop Robert Brindle (1901-15).
While the thesis addresses the way the Bishops tackled the problems they faced
on taking up their appointments, as well as the ways in which they dealt with the
demands placed upon them by Westminster, the emphasis is on the broader Catholic
community and the way it evolved. This is dealt with through a wide-ranging analysis
which locates local developments within a national framework. While each chapter has
a dominant focus for organisational reasons, the thesis aims is to show how matters
inter-related, and subsequently affected the Diocese's developmental path. The overall
outline of the Diocese's historical background between 1850 and 1915, is described
through a study of the characteristics, aims and methods used by Bishop Ullathorne, and
the Bishops of Nottingham, in their attempts to turn the Diocese of Nottingham from a
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concept on paper in 1850, to being an important part of the cultural, social and religious
landscape of the East Midlands by 1915. Succeeding chapters deal with ultramontanism
and how it was uniquely interpreted locally, defining who comprised the local Catholic
community, the evolution of a Diocesan political ethos, education, and anti-Catholicism:
the latter may be seen as perhaps the example par excellence of the need for integrated
studies.
The primary sources used in this thesis bring new perspectives to the study of
nineteenth century Catholicism, and their use greatly extends our knowledge and
understanding of the period. This is especially true as they have not been applied before
to an understanding of the Nottingham Diocese. Use has been made of around 80
newspapers (daily, twice weekly and weekly) and monthly magazines, both Catholic and
Protestant, published across the Diocese, as well as national publications. In several
cases, as in Nottingham and Leicester, their attitudes varied from being anti- to pro-
Catholic, which meant a greater degree of balance in the understanding of events. Use
was also made of newly available papers from the De Lisle, Gainsborough, and Howard
families that have not been used before. Other material was personally collected from
the descendants of nineteenth century families. In addition to papers from the Orders'
Archives, the Westminster and Birmingham Arch-Diocesan Archives, the Vatican and
other Diocesan Archives have been consulted, such as those at Northampton, Salford
and Leeds. The Nottingham Archives provided material that has not been used before,
including the extant papers of Bishops Ullathorne, Hendren, Roskell, Bagshawe,
Brindle, and Dunn. Access was given to extracts from the Chapter Minutes and newly
deposited material from priests who were active in the period.
As well as explaining how the Nottingham Diocese developed between 1850 and
1915, the thesis deals with the differences noted locally between `Catholicism' and
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`Catholic'. Attempts are made to explain the dichotomy noted; namely that while
`Catholicism' entailed hatred and led to anti-Catholicism, individual `Catholics' were
frequently admired and respected.
The thesis will make an important contribution to our knowledge in a number of
ways. Fundamentally, it is the only macro-diocesan study of its type. The newly
available content will provide an increased data base for studies of nineteenth-century
Catholicism. By synthesising the information, localised trends have been established
which are compared to, or used to correct, generalisations portrayed in the
historiography of secondary literature that currently exists. The newly available
information can also be used to test some of the hypotheses used regarding Catholics.
The structure of the thesis will hopefully lay down a model for further Diocesan studies. | en_US |
