Francis Bourne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Francis Alphonsus Cardinal Bourne (1861-1935) was a Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Westminster. He was born on March 23, 1861, in Clapham, South London, England. His mother was Irish. He was educated at St. Cuthbert College, Ushaw, Durham, 1867; St. Edmund's Seminary, Ware, 1877; joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) but left in 1880; St. Thomas' Seminary, Hammersmith, 1880-1881; Saint-Sulpice Seminary, Paris, 1881; University of Louvain, Louvain, 1883.

Ordained to the Priesthood on June 11, 1884, at Holy Spirit, Clapham followed by pastoral work in the parishes of Blackheath, Mortlake and West Grinstead, diocese of Southwark, 1884-1889. Rector of the House of Studies, Henfield Place, 1889-1891. Faculty member of St. John's Seminary, Wonersh, 1891-1896; rector, March 14, 1896. He was appointed a Domestic Prelate to Leo XIII in 1895.

Elected titular bishop of Epifania and appointed coadjutor Bishop, with right of succession, of Southwark, March 27, 1896. Consecrated, May 1, 1896, in the cathedral of Saint George, Southwark, by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, archbishop of Westminster, assisted by John Baptist Butt, bishop of Southwark, and by Thomas Whiteside, bishop of Liverpool. Succeeded to the see of Southwark, April 9, 1897. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Westminster, September 11, 1903.

Created cardinal priest in the consistory of November 27, 1911; received the red hat and the title of S. Pudenziana, November 30, 1911. Participated in the conclaves of 1914 and 1922. Papal legate to the centennial celebrations honoring St Joan of Arc, Rouen, France, May 1931; to the dedication of St. Mary's Abbey, Buckford, England, August 7, 1932.

Died January 1, 1935, London, and buried at St. Edmund's College, Ware, Hertford, in the chapel built by him in memory of the members of the College who died during W.W.I. His heart was deposited in the chapel of St. John's Seminary, Wonersh in June 1935.