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Thursday, March 04, 2010
Ministry of a Ferns bishop
LIFE WAS very different a century ago.
No motor cars, no electricity, land agitation in the country and rule from London.
But life went on and we gain a glimpse of the social and religious background of the era in a new book recalling the life and episcopal ministry of a Bishop of Ferns.
At the incredibly early age of 42, James Browne became one of the youngest Bishops of the Diocese of Ferns.
He was designated 'most worthy' (dignissimus) and his was one of three names submitted to the Vatican.
Bishop James Browne is a largely forgotten figure, however, his grandnephews, Fr. Bill Cosgrave, parish priest of Monageer, and Nick Cosgrave, an accountant living near Enniscorthy, have researched his ministry and produced a book called 'James Browne; His Life and Episcopal Ministry, Bishop of Ferns 1884-1917'.
James Browne, a native of Mayglass, is described as "a modest and private man", and generally described as "a fine Bishop by his contemporaries, tall and fine-looking, modest, generous, honourable, ingenious and well informed."
The last bishop of the 19th century came from a family of Norman origin, powerful and influential, living in the south Wexford areas of Bridgetown and Mulrankin for many centuries.
The early years of his ministry was served as curate at Barntown and Wexford town followed a short spell as parish priest of Piercestown, but it was not long before he became successor to Bishop Michael Warren.
Following his consecration as Bishop of Ferns on Sunday, September 14th 1884 in St. Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy, the new bishop settled into his diocesan duty.
The day of the consecration ceremony was special.
He was driven by carriage from the Mission House on the eastern side of the Slaney, the streets were decorated with bunting, a brass band played suitable music and a special train from Wexford to Enniscorthy brought large numbers of people from the Forth and Bargy part of Co. Wexford.
Bishop Browne's honeymoon had barely settled when he encountered a problem with a curate in the Hook (Templetown) parish named David O'Hanlon-Walsh, who was deeply involved in the land agitation issue.
The determined curate gave fiery speeches and sermons and was very effective in his advocacy of tenant's rights and earned a great reputation among his tenants on the estate of the Marquis of Ely in the Hook.
Fr. O'Hanlon-Walsh was most unpopular with the Establishment and, in fact, Bishop Warren had a ban put on him, however, he considered 'the ban' removed when Bishop Warren died and continued his political antics.
It was noted that he did not attend Bishop Browne's consecration.
Bishop Browne came to the conclusion, not to ban him again, but to remove him from the Hook and send him to Castlebridge.
In the late 1880's, the practice of publishing the Banns of Marriage was enforced in the Diocese of Ferns and the tradition of announcing the impending sacrament three times on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation leading up to the big day lasted for a century.
The Third Ferns Diocesan Synod of 1898, following on from the previous ones in 1832 and 1862, drew up 91 pages of statutes containing 278 individual laws of warnings with 11 appendices adding 40 extra pages to the resulting volume.
There were some amusing entries. Playing cards came under scrutiny.
"We forbid, most of all, card games (played by priests) which are deliberately protracted till late into the night, since, besides being a great waste of time, they may give rise to scandal among the faithful."
Disorderly vigils at funerals of the dead were forbidden and should be completely abolished.
Young people who were unmarried should not be present at wakes that go on all night, except where they were closely related to or very friendly with the deceased.
Bishop Warren was a strong advocate of temperance; therefore, it comes as little surprise that drink would come under the Synod microscope.
Rule 188 proclaimed that in the day of burial priests were not allowed to dine with the family of the deceased. This rule also applied to the Month's Mind and the Anniversary.
"We completely disapprove of and prohibit that fatal mourning custom of providing large amounts of alcoholic drink in the house of the deceased or drinking it in the place of burial."
It is interesting to note that First Holy Communion and Confirmation were celebrated together in 1896 and 1903 and the children were all aged about twelve. In fact, it was the practice in those days to have the Confirmation before the Communion!
In 1903, Bishop Browne commissioned a new Catechism and the writer was Fr. John Lennon, a Superior in the House of Missions at Enniscorthy. It cost one penny and The North Wexford Printing & Publishing Co., Ltd, Mill Park Road, formerly the home of THE ECHO, received £50 for the printing job.
The Bishop suggested there was no need to use good paper in it as it would be in the hands of children 'who are notoriously hard on books!’
During Bishop Browne's 33 years on the throne there was quite an amount of church building, the most notable being St. Mary and St. Michael's Parish Church in New Ross, (1902).
Other new churches during Bishop Browne's episcopate were Tara Hill, (1888), Templeudigan, (1888), Duncannon, (1896), Newbawn, (1896), Templetown, (1899), Oulart, (1909), Rosslare, (1911), Ballycanew, (1913), and Crossabeg, (1913). It is estimated that he ordained 143 young men to the priesthood.
During the war years he allowed the Benedictine community of Maredsous from Belgium to settle at Edermine and the Benedictine Nuns to locate at Merton House, near Bree, where they set up a boarding school in nearby Macmine Castle.
By all accounts, Bishop Browne's episcopacy was not too dramatic.
He was popular with religious groups and with the authorities and avoided controversy.
He was feted by all on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee.
In June 1917, Bishop Browne spent a few days at the Grand Hotel, Malahide, in Dublin, and he was found dead in bed when he failed to appear for his breakfast.
That was Thursday, June 21st 1917.
The Cathedral bell tolled, the papal flag flew at half-mast over the Manse.
The diocese went into mourning as the sad news of his unexpected death spread.
Business premises closed and as the coffin arrived on the 2 o’clock train from Dublin, thousands made their way to St. Aidan’s Cathedral and the obsequies commenced.
His funeral was one of the largest ever afforded any bishop of the diocese. Many tributes were paid and his passing was much lamented.
Aged 74 years, he was the last bishop to be interred within the walls of St. Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy. His tombstone is covered by a seating in the eastern transept.
The authors are proud of their illustrious ancestor whom they describe as a simple and private man who on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee donated £1000 to be used for diocesan purposes, saying that he had already had enough to sustain himself materially for the rest of his life.
This publication is a precious piece of diocesan history.
It is constructed of much published material that appeared in contemporary newspapers and a fascinating record into the life of Bishop Browne and the operation of the diocese a century ago.
The work is enhanced by the photographs of Wexford’s earliest photography celebrity, Charles Vize.
James Browne; His Life and Episcopal Ministry, Bishop of Ferns 18841917, by William and Nick Cosgrave, 107 pages, illustrated, retail price €10.
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