Monsignor Mervyn Alban Alexander D.D., LL.D. (Hon)., the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton, died on Saturday, August 14, 2010, aged 85, at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol.
Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on June 29, 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. The family moved from London to Salisbury, Wiltshire, when he was one year old.
He began his schooling at the Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School in Salisbury and later went to Prior Park College, Bath. He trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome and was ordained on July 18, 1948 at the Leonine College in Rome. He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and obtained his doctorate in divinity in 1951.
Returning to England he was appointed assistant priest in the Cathedral Parish of Clifton, Bristol, where he served from 1951 to l964. He acted as chaplain to the Bristol Maternity and Homeopathic Hospitals. He also became part-time chaplain to the University of Bristol in 1953 and was appointed full-time chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the University Catholic Chaplaincy on Queens Road as a study and residential centre for students. The chaplaincy continues to serve students today.
In 1967 he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Clifton Diocese on March 8, 1972 by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Pinhel on the following April 25, from Bishop Joseph Edward Rudderham assisted by Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer and Bishop John Edward Petit. On December 20, 1974 he was made Bishop of Clifton.
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers between 1973 and 1983, chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers from 1973 till 1983, vice-chairman of the Liturgy Commission from 1977 till 1983 and Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council between 1976 and 1983. His interest in ecumenism was reflected in his role as co-chairman of the Roman Catholic / Methodist Committee from 1976 until 1980, and his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1977. In 1982 he was chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to England and Wales. He was chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture between 1983 and 1999, as well as episcopal adviser to marriage encounter from 1980. He presided at a diocesan synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.
In the Clifton Diocese Bishop Mervyn encouraged the growth of pastoral collaboration between clergy and laity. Under his leadership the diocese became one of the first to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council and was the first Catholic Diocese to appoint a lay person as financial administrator.
Having served as chaplain to the University of Bristol he saw the need to encourage young people to become involved in the life of the Church. He also maintained the links between the diocese and South America and visited diocesan priests working there a number of times.
His personal hobbies and interests included reading, sport, in particular golf, music and walking.
In February 2001 Bishop Mervyn was recognized by the University of Bristol for his contribution to the life of the city and was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol, Msgr. Barry Rogerson.
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on March 28, 2001. On his retirement he returned to Weston-super-Mare as parish priest of St. Joseph's, a role he fulfilled until 2008. He then moved to live at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol, where he passed away.
Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on June 29, 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. The family moved from London to Salisbury, Wiltshire, when he was one year old.
He began his schooling at the Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School in Salisbury and later went to Prior Park College, Bath. He trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome and was ordained on July 18, 1948 at the Leonine College in Rome. He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and obtained his doctorate in divinity in 1951.
Returning to England he was appointed assistant priest in the Cathedral Parish of Clifton, Bristol, where he served from 1951 to l964. He acted as chaplain to the Bristol Maternity and Homeopathic Hospitals. He also became part-time chaplain to the University of Bristol in 1953 and was appointed full-time chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the University Catholic Chaplaincy on Queens Road as a study and residential centre for students. The chaplaincy continues to serve students today.
In 1967 he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Clifton Diocese on March 8, 1972 by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Pinhel on the following April 25, from Bishop Joseph Edward Rudderham assisted by Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer and Bishop John Edward Petit. On December 20, 1974 he was made Bishop of Clifton.
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers between 1973 and 1983, chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers from 1973 till 1983, vice-chairman of the Liturgy Commission from 1977 till 1983 and Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council between 1976 and 1983. His interest in ecumenism was reflected in his role as co-chairman of the Roman Catholic / Methodist Committee from 1976 until 1980, and his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1977. In 1982 he was chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to England and Wales. He was chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture between 1983 and 1999, as well as episcopal adviser to marriage encounter from 1980. He presided at a diocesan synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.
In the Clifton Diocese Bishop Mervyn encouraged the growth of pastoral collaboration between clergy and laity. Under his leadership the diocese became one of the first to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council and was the first Catholic Diocese to appoint a lay person as financial administrator.
Having served as chaplain to the University of Bristol he saw the need to encourage young people to become involved in the life of the Church. He also maintained the links between the diocese and South America and visited diocesan priests working there a number of times.
His personal hobbies and interests included reading, sport, in particular golf, music and walking.
In February 2001 Bishop Mervyn was recognized by the University of Bristol for his contribution to the life of the city and was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol, Msgr. Barry Rogerson.
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on March 28, 2001. On his retirement he returned to Weston-super-Mare as parish priest of St. Joseph's, a role he fulfilled until 2008. He then moved to live at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol, where he passed away.
Monsignor Mervyn Alban Alexander D.D., LL.D. (Hon)., the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton, died on Saturday, August 14, 2010, aged 85, at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol.
Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on June 29, 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. The family moved from London to Salisbury, Wiltshire, when he was one year old.
He began his schooling at the Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School in Salisbury and later went to Prior Park College, Bath. He trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome and was ordained on July 18, 1948 at the Leonine College in Rome. He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and obtained his doctorate in divinity in 1951.
Returning to England he was appointed assistant priest in the Cathedral Parish of Clifton, Bristol, where he served from 1951 to l964. He acted as chaplain to the Bristol Maternity and Homeopathic Hospitals. He also became part-time chaplain to the University of Bristol in 1953 and was appointed full-time chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the University Catholic Chaplaincy on Queens Road as a study and residential centre for students. The chaplaincy continues to serve students today.
In 1967 he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Clifton Diocese on March 8, 1972 by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Pinhel on the following April 25, from Bishop Joseph Edward Rudderham assisted by Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer and Bishop John Edward Petit. On December 20, 1974 he was made Bishop of Clifton.
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers between 1973 and 1983, chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers from 1973 till 1983, vice-chairman of the Liturgy Commission from 1977 till 1983 and Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council between 1976 and 1983. His interest in ecumenism was reflected in his role as co-chairman of the Roman Catholic / Methodist Committee from 1976 until 1980, and his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1977. In 1982 he was chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to England and Wales. He was chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture between 1983 and 1999, as well as episcopal adviser to marriage encounter from 1980. He presided at a diocesan synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.
In the Clifton Diocese Bishop Mervyn encouraged the growth of pastoral collaboration between clergy and laity. Under his leadership the diocese became one of the first to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council and was the first Catholic Diocese to appoint a lay person as financial administrator.
Having served as chaplain to the University of Bristol he saw the need to encourage young people to become involved in the life of the Church. He also maintained the links between the diocese and South America and visited diocesan priests working there a number of times.
His personal hobbies and interests included reading, sport, in particular golf, music and walking.
In February 2001 Bishop Mervyn was recognized by the University of Bristol for his contribution to the life of the city and was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol, Msgr. Barry Rogerson.
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on March 28, 2001. On his retirement he returned to Weston-super-Mare as parish priest of St. Joseph's, a role he fulfilled until 2008. He then moved to live at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol, where he passed away.
Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on June 29, 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. The family moved from London to Salisbury, Wiltshire, when he was one year old.
He began his schooling at the Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School in Salisbury and later went to Prior Park College, Bath. He trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome and was ordained on July 18, 1948 at the Leonine College in Rome. He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and obtained his doctorate in divinity in 1951.
Returning to England he was appointed assistant priest in the Cathedral Parish of Clifton, Bristol, where he served from 1951 to l964. He acted as chaplain to the Bristol Maternity and Homeopathic Hospitals. He also became part-time chaplain to the University of Bristol in 1953 and was appointed full-time chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the University Catholic Chaplaincy on Queens Road as a study and residential centre for students. The chaplaincy continues to serve students today.
In 1967 he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Clifton Diocese on March 8, 1972 by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Pinhel on the following April 25, from Bishop Joseph Edward Rudderham assisted by Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer and Bishop John Edward Petit. On December 20, 1974 he was made Bishop of Clifton.
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers between 1973 and 1983, chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers from 1973 till 1983, vice-chairman of the Liturgy Commission from 1977 till 1983 and Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council between 1976 and 1983. His interest in ecumenism was reflected in his role as co-chairman of the Roman Catholic / Methodist Committee from 1976 until 1980, and his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1977. In 1982 he was chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to England and Wales. He was chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture between 1983 and 1999, as well as episcopal adviser to marriage encounter from 1980. He presided at a diocesan synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.
In the Clifton Diocese Bishop Mervyn encouraged the growth of pastoral collaboration between clergy and laity. Under his leadership the diocese became one of the first to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council and was the first Catholic Diocese to appoint a lay person as financial administrator.
Having served as chaplain to the University of Bristol he saw the need to encourage young people to become involved in the life of the Church. He also maintained the links between the diocese and South America and visited diocesan priests working there a number of times.
His personal hobbies and interests included reading, sport, in particular golf, music and walking.
In February 2001 Bishop Mervyn was recognized by the University of Bristol for his contribution to the life of the city and was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol, Msgr. Barry Rogerson.
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on March 28, 2001. On his retirement he returned to Weston-super-Mare as parish priest of St. Joseph's, a role he fulfilled until 2008. He then moved to live at St Angela's Home in Clifton, Bristol, where he passed away.
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