Archdiocese of Tuam (Church of Ireland)

The Archbishopric of Tuam existed from the mid twelfth century until 1839, with its seat at Tuam.

St Jarlath (c. 445–540) is considered to have founded Tuam as the seat of a bishop in about 501, and he stands first in the list of bishops of Tuam. However, the names of only two other bishops are recorded before the eleventh century, Ferdomnach (died 781) and Eugene mac Clerig (died 969).Haydn, Joseph, The Book of Dignities (London: Longmans, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1851) p. 490

Tuam achieved a new importance after it became the seat of the O'Connor High Kings of Ireland in the early 11th century. The O'Connors had previously been based at Cruachain, County Roscommon.Characteristics of Tuam & Recommendations at heritagecouncil.ie The first St Mary's Cathedral on the present site was begun in the 12th century, when Turlough O'Connor (1088–1156) was High King. This marked Tuam's becoming the seat of an archbishop, following the Synod of Kells of 1152.St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam at County Galway Guide, tuam.galway-ireland.ie

With the Reformation, the new Church of Ireland established its own archdiocese, which was separate from the authority of the Pope. This archdiocese became the central part of the new Province of Tuam, an ecclesiastical province of the Church of Ireland, so continuing until the nineteenth century. In 1839, on the death of the last archbishop, Dr Power Trench, Tuam lost its metropolitan status, as a consequence of the Church Temporalities Act, and united with the see of Killala and Achonry. At the same time, the diocese of Ardagh was separated from it and united with Kilmore.Haydn, op. cit., p. 491

The former Ecclesiastical province of Tuam now forms part of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe in the Province of Dublin.

Church of Ireland archbishops of Tuam

The following is a basic list of the Church of Ireland archbishops of Tuam.

1514-1536: Thomas O'Mullaly 1537-1572: Christopher Bodkin 1572-1595: William O'Mullally 1595-1609: Nehemiah Donnellan 1609-1628: William Daniel 1629-1638: Randolph Barlow 1638-1645: Richard Boyle 1645-1647: John Maxwell 1647-1660: See vacant 1660-1667: Samuel Pullen 1667-1679: John Parker 1679-1716: John Vesey 1716-1741: Edward Synge 1742-1751: Josiah Hort 1752-1775: John Ryder 1775-1782: Jemmett Browne 1782-1794: Joseph Deane Bourke 1794-1819: William Beresford 1819-1839: Power Le Poer Trench

Loss of metropolitan status The Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 37) combined the Church of Ireland Archdiocese of Tuam with the Diocese of Killala and Achonry on 13 April 1834. However, Tuam retained its metropolitan status until the death of the incumbent Archbishop, Dr William Power Le Poer Trench, in 1839.

See also Archdiocese of Tuam (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry Dean of Tuam Archdeacon of Tuam

References