England, John

England, John, 1786–1842, Irish Roman Catholic churchman in America, b. Cork. He studied, was ordained, and ministered to several parishes in Co. Cork. His parishes were poor ones, but he became well known for his zeal for Catholic Emancipation and for advocating equality of his church with the Anglicans in Ireland. England was consecrated bishop of the new see of Charleston, S.C., in 1820 and moved to America. His diocese included the Carolinas and Georgia. Notable from the beginning for his intense interest in all things American, he traveled throughout his diocese continually, going many miles if necessary to visit even one of his coreligionists. He was especially devoted to the needs of the blacks in his diocese.

Bibliography

See P. K. Guilday, Life and Times of John England, 1786–1842 (2 vol., 1927, repr. 1969).

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England, John (1786–1842) Catholic prelate; born in Cork, Ireland. He became prominent in Ireland as a pastor, preacher, editor, and defender of Irish rights before being consecrated bishop of the missionary diocese of Charleston, S.C., (1820), embracing the Carolinas and Georgia. A progressive, widely known for his efforts to counter anti-Catholic prejudice and champion the separation of church and state, he founded and became editor (1822) of the nation's first Catholic weekly, the United States Catholic Miscellany.