BERINGTON, JOSEPH. — Theologian, b. 16 Jan 1743 at Winsley, d. 10 Dec 1827 at Buckland (Berkshire). As a young man he studied at the college of St-Omer, and after ordination exercised the pastoral ministry in France for several years. Of a passionate temperament, upon his return to his homeland he took part in the struggle for Catholic emancipation, but came into conflict with the English episcopate because he was willing to take the oath required by the civil authorities. He also maintained that the Catholic religion ought in every country to conform to the national character of the people professing II. When his propositions were condemned, he first wrote a not very convincing retraction, which he republished in 1801 with necessary and satisfactory additions.
Among his numerous works, in which he defended these ideas contrary to orthodoxy, may be noted *Reflections, with an Exposition of Roman Catholic principles, in Reference to God and the Country* (1787) and *Protestantism and Popery illustrated. Two letters... tending to illustrate the real sentiments of the Catholics throughout the United Kingdom* (1812). He also wrote various historical works: *History of the reign of Henry II*, London 1790; *A literary history of the Middle Ages*, 1811; *The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Catholic Religion in England...from the reign of Elizabeth to the present time*, 1813.