James Dowding was born at Bath 2 July 1793. It is likely that he was related to Fr. James Vincent Dowding (b. Bath, 1809) and his brother, Fr. John Augustine Dowding (b. London 1806). these two went to Downside and joined that Community, whereas our James went to Ampleforth in 1810, perhaps on the recommendation of Fr. Alexius Calderbank (L) who was at that time in charge of the mission of Bath. He was already 17 years of age and had received Minor Orders, presumably at the hands of Bishop Collingridge (V.A. of the Western District) and perhaps with a view to the secular priesthood.
James Dowding took the habit and the name of Bernard in October of 1810 (MS.244, No.77). But he did not complete his novitiate, returning to the world of his own accord a little before the end of the year's probation. He married some years later, but on the death of his wife, returned to Ampleforth was again admitted to the habit, this time under the name of Hilary (1832). He was professed 15 October 1833 and was perhaps ordained subdeacon in that year. Deacon, 11 July 1834; Priest, 12 July 1834.
Remaining at Ampleforth, Fr. Hilary became a Councillor in February of 1836, and he was Secretary of Council for over two years. At the first Council held by Prior Cockshoot, in August 1838, he was nominate both subprior and Cellarer. He had held the former office, together with that of professor of Theology, from the September of 1837, when Fr. Dullard was called to Broadway. The Community was small at this time, so that the pressure of choir duties and work was severe. We can hardly be surprised, therefore, that under his triple burden the health of Fr. Dowding gave cause for anxiety. President Marsh writes thus to Prior Cockshoot 26 October 1838 (MS.262, No.8):
This destination proved to be Little Crosby, the seat of the Blundell family, which had been served by our Fathers for the past 50 years. Here he remained until 1843, when he was transferred to Cheltenham in the South Province. After 7 years there he returned in 1850 to Little Crosby, for another 6 years. From 1856 to 1858 he was Incumbent of Ormskirk, and from 1858 to 1864 of Aigburth. He died at Aigburth 15 December 1864, in his 71st year, and was buried there.
Thomas Hubberstey was born at Radburn in the parish of Clayton Green, Lancashire, in 1822, and came to Ampleforth in 1839. (Ampleforth Journal 1 (1896) p133). As he was then 17 years of age, it is to be presumed that he came as a church student, probably on the recommendation of the Laurentian incumbent of Clayton Green. He took the habit and the name of Cyprian on 14 August 1843, and was professed 28 August 1844. He was ordained Subdeacon 14 December 1848, and Deacon on the following day. He was never ordained priest. Apparently, about the time when he should have been ordained (1849 or 1850), he had become unsettled in mind and expressed a wish to leave, so that his ordination was postponed. We hear of this and also of a more disturbing event, from a letter of Prior Cooper's to President Molyneux of 25 June 1852. (MS.239, No.50). This is a summary of the matter:
We get further information about Br. Cyprian from a letter of his own addressed from Radburn to President Burchall on 12 May 1850. He writes as follows (MS.240, No.102)
It is apparent from this letter the Br. Cyprian was still accepted as a member of the familia and on good terms with his brethren. The difficulty was to find him an appropriate occupation. It may be that the President had endeavoured to get him taken by one of the other monasteries, and that his failure is alluded to by the 'disappointment' of the above letter. However this may be, the ultimate outcome was that Br. Cyprian went to Australia and died at Melbourne 13 August 1865. We may surmise that he found as a Deacon some suitable employment there under Bishop Goold.
Charles Tindall was born at Carlton, Yorkshire, in 1834 and came to Ampleforth in 1848. He had as classmates John Hedley, the future Bishop, and Kenelm Digby Beste who was a novice for a time and afterwards joined the London Oratory. In the school Charles Tindall evinced much ability (see the account of the Exhibition of 1853 in The Student, Vol.1. No.3. p.37). He took the habit and the name of Oswald 17 October 1854, and was professed 10 November 1858. He received Minor Orders 17 May 1856, Subdiaconate 6 June 1857, Diaconate 18 June 1859, Priesthood 19 October 1962.
Br. Oswald had promised to be a successful teacher, but his promise was foiled by his delicate health. Like his contemporary, Br. Placid Styles, he appears to have been consumptive. This we infer from a letter (MS.245, No.77) from Prior Anderson 13 April 1865 to President Burchall, who had applied to the Prior for his transfer to the Mission. Prior Anderson writes as follows:
Fr. Oswald did not go on the Mission and lived but a year longer, dying 9 June 1866. He is buried in the Hillside cemetery.
James Barton was born at Warrington 22 May 1842 and came to Ampleforth in 1855. His death, less than a year after the untimely death of Fr. Oswald Tindall, deprived the Community of another young and promising member. He took the habit and the name of Wolstan at Belmont 11 March 1861, being one of the earliest novices there. He was professed in simple vows 25 March 1862, and in solemn vows at Ampleforth 27 March 1865. He received Minor Orders at Belmont, at the hands of Bishop Brown, 1 November 1863. He was ordained Subdeacon 1 November 1865, and Deacon 16 March 1867: receiving these orders at Ampleforth from the hands of Bishop Briggs of Beverley.
It would appear that by this time, when just about to enter upon his 25th year, he had already fallen a victim to consumption. Three letters from Prior Prest to President Burchall of 24, 27, 30 April 1867, tell of his symptoms and the doctor's fears (MS.245, Nos.204, 205, 208), In the last of these the Prior writes: -
Your Reverence may imagine that we are having hard times. Br. Wolstan's duties have of course been distributed amongst the others who I think already had enough and we are now without an organist to play at Mass, Vespers or Benediction. We are at present dependent upon the kindness of Mr. Bateman who resides at Helmsley and in his absence we have to sing without the organ. If I do not write again for a few days your Reverence will be right in interpreting 'No news is good news.'
Twelve days later he writes that a further consultation had been held on the previous day, the malady was considered a very bad case of consumption, and that the probability was that Br. Wolstan would not live a month. He was getting weaker every day.
This sad foreboding was more than justified, for Br. Wolstan died 4 days later, on 15 May 1867, before reaching his 25th birthday.
William Hampson was born at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, in 1802 and came to Ampleforth in 1813. He took the habit and the name of Jerome 22 December 1818, and was professed 23 December 1819. He received orders as follows: - Minor 25 January 1819, Subdiaconate 10 June 1822, Diaconate 1 August 1823, Priesthood 1826. On the departure of Prior Burgess & his companions for Prior Park (May, 1830) he took up the Procurator's duties, and for a short while, until the election of Prior Towers acted as Subprior.
He passed to the Mission in 1834 and had the following series of appointments:- Brandsby 1834-5, Keighley (not a Benedictine mission) 1835-6, Little Crosby 1836, Knaresboro' 1838, Lawkland 1856, Woolton 1862. At this last mission his health failed and he became an invalid. In the latter half of 1866 he retired to Ampleforth, where he died in the following year. He was buried in the hillside cemetery.
Vincent Heptonstall, a cousin of Dom Thomas Paulinus Heptonstall of St. Gregory's, was born at Hazlewood (nr. Tadcaster) in 1804. He took the habit at Ampleforth as a laybrother and was professed in 1831. When Bishop Collier went to the Mauritius in 1840, Br. Cuthbert accompanied him and remained there until his death.
Richard Croft was born in Liverpool in 1805 and came to Ampleforth in 1816. He took the habit and the name of Clement 2 October 1822, and was professed 9 October 1823. He received Minor Orders 18 December 1824, and became Subdeacon 27 June 1828, Deacon and Priest 17 & 18 September 1830. He went on the Mission in 1831 to St. Mary's Liverpool and passed from there in 1838 to Brownedge, where he stayed 2 years. In some way which is not recorded he failed to give satisfaction, and Birt's Obit Book stations him next, until 1844, at 'St. Anne's Cemetery, Liverpool.' The mission at Edgehill was a-founding at this time; but Abbot Allanson does not mention Fr. Crofts' name in connection with it. As appears from a letter of Prior Ambrose Prest to President Barber of date 10 Nov. 1845 (MS.240, No.26) he was in 1844 transferred to Brindle, but only as a paying -guest, under the jurisdiction and at the charges of the Prior of Ampleforth. Birth puts him at Cowpen in 1845, but this must refer only to a temporary supply (see Allanson's E.B.C. Missions). Birt also puts him at Brindle until 1848; but it is clear from a letter of Prior Burchall of Douay to President Barber, dated 19 December 1847, that he left Brindle before the end of 1847. (MS.262, No.102). The Prior says that Fr. Croft has arrived at Douay and that he has secured a place for him with the 'Freres de la Sainte Union', where he will have to pay £30 for board and lodging. He hopes to ge him later to another college where his expenses will not exceed £7 or £8 per annum. He will call upon him from time to time & report on him.
A later correspondence, of February 1867, between Prior Holohan of Douay and Prior Bede Prest (MS.240, Nos.148,149) reveals that he was then at a college at Courtrai, where after teaching English for an unspecified period he became a permanent invalid. Just a year later, on February 5th. 1868, President Burchall writes (MS.240, No.162). 'I received last night from Douai a telegram announcing the death of Fr. Croft at Courtrai. No details.'
Ralph Cooper was born at Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, on 4 April 1799. He came to Ampleforth as a boy in 1811. He took the habit and the name of Maurus 20 February 1816, and was professed 24 February 1817. He received Minor Orders and the Subdiaconate 25 January 1819, the Diaconate 10 June 1822, and the Priesthood 1 August 1823.
He went in the same year (1823) on the Mission to Bath as assistant to Fr. Jerome Brindle. When the latter in 1830 joined Bishop Baines and secularized, Fr. Maurus became Incumbent of Bath, which post he held until 1846. He passed then to Chipping Sodbury, and served that Mission until his death 1 Jan 1869.
It was possible for our missionary Fathers in those days, and especially at such a prosperous Mission as Bath to amass a considerable peculium, and Fr. Maurus would seem to have been more than usually successful in this respect. The Ampleforth accounts show that there accrued to the monastery at his death in spolia, the very considerable sum of £16,241. This windfall was of very great service to the house, which at that time was somewhat embarrassed in its finances as a consequence of the building of the College wing. But it did not fall to Ampleforth without some controversy. At the General Chapter of 1870 the Provincial of Canterbury petitioned that the Chapter would grant him, for the Mission of Bath, the sum of £2,200 out of the spolia of Fr. Maurus Cooper. He represented that Fr. Maurus, while at Bath, had amassed ingentes pecunias summas without doing anything to pay off the mission debt. The Chapter suggested that the matter should be arranged between the Provincial and the Prior of Ampleforth, and SO it was done. Prior Prest, without admitting the justice of the claim, would appear (from the accounts) to have paid the Provincial the sum of £1,000.
Out of his considerable accumulations Fr Maurus was a very generous benefactor in his lifetime both to the parish in which he was born and to Ampleforth. The Ampleforth accounts show that he invested £1,420 in the House and contributed a total sum of £1020 in gifts, defraying the cost of such items as the bridge over the road, the statue of St. Benedict that stands in the front of the old house, the tower clock, the lectern, etc. As regards his home parish, he wrote to Prior Prest 6 March 1867; 'I am sparing every shilling for the improvement of Brownedge church and a peal of bells.' (MS.240, No.150)
George Lowe was born in 1806 at Stainton in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Birt's Obit Book says that he was educated at Ampleforth, but his name is missing from the Ampleforth Lists. The same book says that he was clothed as Br. Austin 25 September 1828, but not professed until 10 October 1831. The period covered by thee dates was a disturbed one at Ampleforth, for Bishop Baines and Prior Burgess had the Prior Park venture in hand, which enterprise led in May of 1830 to the departure of the Prior, the Subprior and the Procurator for Prior Park. At the same time Bishop Baines persuaded the majority of the novices to relinquish the habit and join his new foundation. Br. Austin alone refused to take this course. It is possible - if the above-given dates are correct - that this business explains the delay in his profession
Br. Austin receive Minor orders 17 September 1830 (Obit Book )which would be more than a year before his profession. He became Subdeacon and Deacon 11 and 12 July 1834 and Priest in December of the same year. He was sent on the Mission in 1835 to St. Mary's Liverpool, and in 1836 was transferred to Morpeth in Northumberland, which mission he served until his death there 5 February 1869. He built a new church at Morpeth, which was opened 1 August 1850. The Hedleys were from Morpeth and there is a letter in our archives written by Fr Austin on the occasion of his sending John Hedley, the Future Bishop, to Ampleforth (MS.240, No.30)
In another letter (MS.240, No.124) written to President Burchall 1 Feb. 1863, he respectfully declines the priorship of Ampleforth on the resignation of Prior Cooper, while grateful to the Community for their confidence in him.
His new church at Morpeth, with embellishments, cost £2400. He provided schools also. Purchased the Collingwood property in 1852 for £1200, to the great benefit of the foundation. General Chapter of 1862, in small acknowledgement of his great services to N. Province, created him Praedicator Generalis.
Fr. Augustine had no literary pretensions, but he possessed a large fund of common sense, which generally proves to be more useful than higher acquirements. He was a zealous and industrious missioner. Few have laboured more indefatigably & been able to accomplish so much with such slender means. He was a father to the poor, whom he was always ready to assist with his advice and charity. He was greatly respected and beloved by all classes in Morpeth, both Catholic and Protestant.
Had no strong constitution, but generally contrived to get over his chronic attacks of illness. But a cold caught after Christmas turned to gastric fever 'which hurried him out of life'. Buried in a vault contiguous to his church and a monument raised to his memory by the Catholics and several of the principal Protestants of Morpeth.
George Caldwell was born 26 June 1806 at Orford near Warrington. According to Birt's Obit Book he was educated at Douay, as were the two other Caldwells (Thomas Edmund b. 1819 and John Bernard b. 1826), and it is probable that he was related to them. They were professed for St. Edmund's, but George for Ampleforth. He took the habit and the name of Alban 29 November 1824 and was professed 12 January 1826. He received Minor Orders 20 January 1827, became Subdeacon 27 June 1828, Deacon 17 September 1830, and Priest on the next day.
He was sent on the Mission in 1832 to St. Peter's, Liverpool, from which place he was transferred in 1834 to Clayton Green. He returned to St. Peter's in 1839 and in 1844 became Incumbent of St. Anne's, Ormskirk. He left Ormskirk in 1856 for Little Crosby and in 1859 was moved to Lee House, where he stayed until 1868. His final move was to Netherton, near Liverpool, where he died 15 January 1870.
Considerable talents. Good memory. At one time was one of the most popular preachers in Liverpool. Gentle, unassuming, economical. Great benefactor to Ormskirk and to the Province. Buried at his own request in a vault under the church at St Anne's Edge Hill.
Samuel Day was born in 1791 at Wellow, near Bath. He came to Ampleforth 14 August 1804, and not in 1806, as the Ampleforth Lists say. This is proved by a letter written by him to Prior Cooper of date 9 August 1854 (MS.263, No.13) in which he thanks the Prior for an invitation to celebrate the jubilee of his coming to Ampleforth on 14 August 1854. He was perhaps sent to Ampleforth by the Laurentian incumbent of Bath, Fr. James Calderbank.
He took the habit and the name of Bede 12 October 1806, and was professed 13 October 1807. He received Minor Orders 7 April 1810, became Subdeacon 19 December 1812, Deacon 17 Dec. 1813, and Priest 16 December 1814.
He was sent on the Mission in 1816 to Standish, near Wigan, where he remained for 6 years. From Standish he was transferred to Clayton Green, which he served for the period of 12 years (1822-34). He built the church and presbytery there. At the General Chapter of 1834 he was elected Prior of Ampleforth in succession to Fr. Adrian Towers and received from him something of a damnosa haereditas. The finances of Ampleforth had been seriously damage by the Prior Park exodus; they were further impaired by the reckless administration of Prior Towers. Prior Day, at the very beginning of his rule, found himself obliged to make a public appeal for help and during the course of his priorship had to borrow to the extent of £3450. Yet he left the finances of the house better than he had found them by the amount of £3000. He was a careful and cautious man, and perhaps lacked the energy and ability that might have completely restored the situation.
On the termination of his priorship in 1838 he passed again to the Mission and served and succession of places, as follows:- Coventry 1838, Kemerton 1840, Barton-on-Humber 1844, Brownedge 1845, Aigburth 1845,Felton (Northumberland) 1849-69. He then retired to Ampleforth and died there 16 February 1869.
In Fr. Bede's last year of retirement at Ampleforth Fr. Cuthbert Almond was a boy in the top class of the school. He records in his History of Ampleforth Abbey that Fr. Bede 'was tall, handsome, straight and slender, even in his 79th year. He had a kindly manner, a mournful look in his eyes, and a commanding presence.'
It would seem that he was of a sensitive disposition and had not been as a consequence too happy in his relations with others, especially perhaps during the difficult period of his priorship. In the letter cited above, in which he declines the invitation to celebrate that jubilee, he writes:-
Peter Greenough was born 23 June 1801 at Wigan, being the son of John and Alice Greenough. He came to Ampleforth in 1814, and took the habit and the name of Ignatius 22 December 1818. Birt's Obit Book says that he received Minor Orders and the Subdiaconate 25 January 1819, i.e. during his novitiate. He became Deacon 10 June 1822, and Priest 11 June 1825. He went on the Mission in the next year.
This is the series of his appointments:- Ince Blundell, near Crosby 1826; Standish 1837; Ince Blundell 1839; Scarisbrick 1865, where he died 26 October 1870, in his 70th year.
During his missionary career he filled several responsible offices in the Congregation. He was a Definitor of the North Province from 1846 to 1850, and Provincial from 1850 to 1858. He was made Cathedral Prior of Coventry in 1850, When he ceased to be Provincial in 1858, he became a Definitor of the Regimen and held this office until 1870.
Much progress was made on the Missions during the period of his provincialate; a new Church was built at Leyland, the mission of Cleator Moor founded from Whitehaven, a church opened at Walton-le-Date. There was development also in Liverpool, at St. Mary's and St Augustines's.
Out of the peculium which he acquired during his missionary career he was generous both to the missions and to his monastery. He had some correspondence with his successor as Provincial (Fr. Athanasius Allanson) regarding the disposition of his estate and it is not easy to determine what was the final arrangement. (See MS.168, pp.20 and 22. And there are entries also in the Council Book of the North Province.) The spolia which ultimately accrued to Ampleforth appear to have amounted to £1497.
Apart from this money, there came in 1870 a handsome grey cob, named Dandy, and a dog-cart. For several years these items were of much service, and very welcome, to the priest who served Brandsby.
(See my account of the Ampleforth Church Student Funds for a full account of his finances and financial dispositions. JMcC.
Peter Taylor was born 14 January 1847 in Liverpool and came to Ampleforth in 1859. He received the habit and the name of Hilary at Belmont 28 September 1867 and was professed 11 Nov. 1868, a month later than the due time. No doubt ill-health was responsible for this delay, as also for his not receiving Minor Orders with his companions on 28 October 1870. It seems that he fell into consumption about the time that he came of age, and he had to abandon his studies and leave Belmont for Standish where his parents lived. On 16 January 1871 President Burchall writes to Prior Prest that he is grieved to hear so poor an account of Br. Hilary. Two months later (March 18) he writes:-
Br. Hilary died at Standish 13 March 1871 and was buried there.