George Blackwell
|
The Reverend Father George Blackwell, B.D. |
|
|---|---|
| Archpriest of England | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | March 1598 |
| Term ended | 1 February 1608 |
| Successor | George Birkhead |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1575 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1545 Middlesex, England |
| Died | 12 January 1613 (aged c. 68) The Clink, Southwark, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Father George Blackwell (c. 1545 – 12 January, 1613) was Roman Catholic Archpriest of England from 1597 to 1608.
Blackwell was born in Middlesex, England about 1545, perhaps the son of the pewterer Thomas Blackwell. He was admitted as a scholar to Trinity College, Oxford on 27 May 1562. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1563, and became a probationer of the college in 1565, a fellow in 1566, and graduated MA in 1567. He resigned or was ejected from Trinity College in 1571, probably for his religious beliefs, and in 1574 left England for the English College, Douai. He was ordained priest in 1575, and graduated BST from the University of Douai the same year.
In 1601 a government spy described Blackwell as "about 50 years of age, his head brownish, his beard more black, cut after the fashion of a spade, of stature indifferent, and somewhat thick, decently attired"
Father George Blackwell returned to England as a missionary in November 1576. He was imprisoned in 1578 for his work as a priest.
After being released from prison, he lived and worked from the house of Mrs. Meany in Westminster, England in secret.
After the death of Cardinal Allen in 1594, the leadership of the clandestine Catholic Mission in England was thrown into disarray. In March 1597, Cardinal Henry Cajetan wrote to Blackwell from Rome to tell him that Pope Clement VIII had appointed him archpriest over the secular clergy in England. Six assistants were named for him and another six were left to his discretion. As Archpriest, he lodged at the town house of Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu, when in London. His instructions enjoined him to work in close consultation with the head of the Jesuit mission in England.
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