The Scrivener: The Apostles Who Died Too Soon
…Believe it or not, he also acquired degrees and doctorates such as D.D., LL.D., Ph.D., D.Litt. and a vast number of grandiose titles including His Sacred Beatitude Mar Georgius I, Patriarch of Glastonbury, Prince-Catholicos of the West, Doctor Christianissimus, and Prelat Commandeur of the Order of the Crown of Thorns….
Brian Barratt introduces us to an extraordinary character, Hugh George Newman.
To read the two preceding articles in this series of three - And So The Immortals Pass By and Proper Bishops And Another Messiah - please click on The Scrivener in the menu on this page.
And do visit Brian’s invigorating Web site The Brain Rummager www.alphalink.com.au/~umbidas/
During the 1940's, a Mr Hugh George Newman was the secretary of a national bicycle trade employers' association in Britain. He was also the editor of the cycle trade magazine. Believe it or not, he also acquired degrees and doctorates such as D.D., LL.D., Ph.D., D.Litt. and a vast number of grandiose titles including His Sacred Beatitude Mar Georgius I, Patriarch of Glastonbury, Prince-Catholicos of the West, Doctor Christianissimus, and Prelat Commandeur of the Order of the Crown of Thorns.
Right, you guessed — he was one of the curious episcopi vagantes, independent bishops, I wrote about in Bogus Bishops. His high appointments existed only on paper or in his head.
Mr Newman's parents were members of the Catholic Apostolic church, sometimes incorrectly called the Irvingites. He wanted to become a priest, but could not be ordained in that church. The reasons are complex and fascinating.
There are probably other groups which give themselves variations of the name Catholic Apostolic Church but they are not legitimate heirs to the church established by the followers of the Rev. Edward Irving (1792–1834).
Irving was a powerful Presbyterian preacher. Pentecostal manifestations began to occur during his services and prayer meetings. People 'spoke in tongues', believing themselves to be manifesting the gift of the Holy Spirit. Healings were also taking place. Crowds of up to 2,000 people would gather to hear him. There was opposition and talk of riotous assembly. His doctrines were not orthodox. The Church of Scotland terminated his ministry.
He was invited to join a small group in London which, after his death, became the Catholic Apostolic church. Although Irving did not establish the church, his beliefs and ideas were fundamental to its teaching. These included the prophecy that Jesus Christ would soon return.
Alongside its Pentecostal outlook, the small but rapidly growing Catholic Apostolic church formulated a comprehensive Liturgy. It incorporated content from Eastern Orthodox liturgies and has been described as one of the richest in Christendom. In the prevailing spirit of liturgical renewal, 'high church' practices were followed. These included Communion for members who were unable to attend the morning service, using sacraments reserved in a tabernacle on the altar. The twelve bishops appointed by 1835 were known as the restored Apostles. They were to administer the church's affairs until Christ returned.
The Second Coming of Jesus was expected within the lifetime of these Apostles. Unfortunately, over the following years, they all died and Jesus had not returned. No more priests could be ordained. Membership slipped from many thousand to a mere handful.
I have documentary evidence that some of the faithful were still alive in 1956. In response to my enquiry about the Liturgy, I received a letter which includes the words: 'We have a hymn-tune book for our hymns...' Note that he writes 'We' and 'our'. The handwriting is that of an old person. One of my treasured possessions is a copy of The Liturgy, which he sold to me for a very modest sum.
The remarkable Catholic Apostolic church building still stands in Gordon Square, London. I visited it in1964 and was amazed. It is a superb example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. John Betjeman (1906–1984) wrote: 'Good heavens! You couldn't have a grander chapel. Why, even the nave of Westminster Abbey is only thirteen feet higher than the nave and sanctuary of Gordon Square. You have not just got a chapel for London University, but a cathedral.'
It is a Grade 1 listed building. This means that it cannot be altered in any way without official permission. From 1963 to 1992 it was part of the University of London, known as the University Church of Christ the King. It is currently used by Forward in Faith, a high church Anglican organisation which works to prevent women from being ordained. I find this intriguing — one of my old school pals, as bishop of Bristol, became the first Anglican bishop to ordain women to the priesthood.
We can forget Mr Newman, would-be bishop, and all his self-proclaimed titles. We might have differing opinions on the ordination of women. But we can still admire and be thankful for the magnificent cathedral-like edifice bequeathed by the defunct Catholic Apostolic church.
Sources
Encyclopædia Britannica 2007
— The Liturgy and Other Divine Offices of The Church, printed at The Chiswick Press, London. Undated, early 20th century.
— The University Church of Christ the King: A brief History. Church of England Chaplaincy to the University of London, 1960's.
Andrews, W.W., The History and Claims of The Body of Christians known as the "Catholic Apostolic Church", 1866, reprinted by H.B.Copinger, Wembley 1950.
Anson, P.F., Bishops at Large, Faber and Faber, London 1964.
Robinson, W., The Shattered Cross: The many churches and the one church, Berean Press, Birmingham 1945.
Whitley, H.C., Blinded Eagle: An introduction to the life and teaching of Edward Irving, SCM Press, London 1955.
http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc02/htm/iv.vi.cxix.htm
http://www.forwardinfaith.com
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ_the_King%2C_Bloomsbury
This version © Copyright Brian Barratt 2008
