United Dioceses of Meath and Kildare Dioecesis Unitae Midensis et Kildarensis Deoisí Aontaithe na Mí agus Chill Dara | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | Dublin and Cashel |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Cathedral | Trim Cathedral, Kildare Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Pat Storey,Bishop of Meath and Kildare |
| Website | |
| www.meathandkildare.org | |
TheUnited Dioceses of Meath and Kildare is adiocese in theChurch of Ireland located inIreland. The diocese is in theecclesiastical province ofDublin.[1] Alone of English and Irish bishops who are not also archbishops, the Bishop of Meath and Kildare is styled "The Most Reverend".[2]
The electoral college met inChrist Church Cathedral, Dublin on 28 May 2013 and no candidate put forward received the support of two-thirds of the electoral college voting in orders (lay and clergy). On 20 September 2013, it was announced that theHouse of Bishops (to whom the appointment had lapsed on the failure of the college's vote) had appointed as bishop-electPat Storey, who became the first woman to be a bishop in the Church of Ireland.[3][4]
Although there had been abbot-bishops atClonard Abbey since the sixth century, the Diocese of Clonard proper was not formally established until 1111. It was one of the twenty-four dioceses established by theSynod of Rathbreasail. The diocese covered roughly the western part of theKingdom of Meath with the bishop's seat located atClonard Abbey. During the twelfth century, the bishops of Clonard acquired most of Meath as their territory and frequently used the title "Bishop of Meath" or "Bishop of the men of Meath". After BishopSimon Rochfort transferred his seat from Clonard toTrim in 1202, the normal style became the "Bishop of Meath".
In the 5th century, theAbbey of Kildare was founded bySaint Brigid, a double monastery of nuns and monks. The abbey was governed by an abbess, who was the "heir of Brigit" (comarbae Brigte), and by abbots, bishops and abbot-bishops who were subordinate to the abbess.[5] It was not until the 12th century however, that the bishopric was formally established at theSynod of Rathbreasail (1111 AD).[6] The diocese covered roughly the northern part ofCounty Kildare and the eastern part ofCounty Offaly.
The cathedral church of the former diocese isTrim Cathedral. There are ten parishes in this part of the United Dioceses:Athboy,Athlone,Castlepollard (Rathgraffe), Clara,Julianstown,Kells,Mullingar,Navan,Trim, andTullamore (Kilbride). The dean is theDean of Clonmacnoise.
The cathedral church of the former diocese isKildare Cathedral. There are six parishes in this part of the United Dioceses:Clane, Clonsast (Clonbullogue),Mountmellick,Naas,Newbridge (Morristownbiller), andPortarlington St Paul (French Church).[7] The dean is theDean of Kildare.
| Bishops of Meath and Kildare | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1976 | 1985 | Donald Caird | Translated fromLimerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe; elected 9 September and confirmed 14 September 1976; translated toDublin in 1985. |
| 1985 | 1996 | Walton Empey | Translated fromLimerick and Killaloe in 1985; subsequently translated toDublin in 1996. |
| 1996 | 2012 | Richard Clarke | Elected and consecrated in 1996;[8][9] translated toArmagh 15 December 2012. |
| 2013 | Pat Storey | Appointment by the House of Bishops announced 20 September 2013;[4] consecrated in Dublin 30 November 2013.[10] | |
| Source(s):[11] | |||
The following statement, drawn up in 1876 bySir J. Bernard Burke, Ulster King at Arms, will show the historical grounds on which the claim of Meath rested: Anciently Meath was one of the five provinces, and the seat of the chief monarch of Ireland. In 1152,Cardinal Paparo, Legatea latere, brought over four palliums, and assigned one to each of the four bishops, Armagh, Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam, erecting those Sees into archbishoprics. As some consolation to Meath, and in recognition of the former royal eminence of that province, the Bishop of Meath was styled Most Reverend, and given the first place among bishopsprimus inter pares. […] At the Reformation, the Protestant Church found the Bishop of Meath accorded the first place among bishops, and has ever since allowed that pre-eminence to the See.
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