Father Richard Smith

Richard Smith (b. Hanworth, England, November 1568 - d. Paris, 18 March 1655), (officially the Bishop of Chalcedon), was the second Bishop over England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559. He followed Father William Bishop who died in 1624.

Early life

Richard Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England. He studied at Trinity College,Oxford University and in Rome, where he was admitted to the English College in 1586.

Priesthood

In 1592 Smith was ordained as a priest. Between 1598 and 1603 he spend some time in Valladolid, where he became a Doctor of Theology, and in Seville.

He served as a priest in England at a time when Catholicism was officially banned, and could have faced death if caught and tried. From 1603 to 1609 he was chaplain to Viscountess Montague, wife of Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu, at Battle Abbey in Sussex, England. He left Sussex in 1609 to go to Paris to study and write at Arras College, which had been founded for English priests.

Bishopric

Richard Smith was appointed Bishop over the whole of England, Wales and Scotland in 1625. He followed Father William Bishop who held the post for less than a year. As Catholicism was illegal in England at the time his title was Bishop of Chalcedon. He arrived in England] in April 1625, and stayed in Turvey, Bedfordshire at the house of Lord Montagu. In 1628 a warrant was issued for his arrest. He resigned his post in 1631, when he fled to Paris.

Death

In Paris he lived at first with Cardinal Richelieu until the latter's death in 1642. He died in the Paris convent of English Augustinian nuns.

ee also

* James I of England

References

* Leys, M. D. R., "Catholics in England 1559-1829: A social history" (London : Camelot Press Ltd., 1961)
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14059a.htm "Richard Smith", Catholic Encyclopedia]