HEDLEY, JOHN CUTHBERT. - Benedictine bishop, in the world John Edward, b. of Catholic parents at Morpeth (Northumberland), 15 April 1837, d. at Llanishen, near Cardiff, 11 Nov. 1915. In 1848 he went to study at the priory of Ampleforth, and there pronounced his Benedictine vows in 1855. In 1862 he was ordained priest and transferred to Belmont near Hereford, where he was prefect of novices and professor of philosophy. Among his pupils was Francis Aidan Gasquet (v.), later cardinal. From 1864 to 1911 he wrote for the Dublin Review, of which he was editor from 1879 to 1884. In 1873 he was consecrated auxiliary bishop and in 1881 he succeeded Thomas Joseph Brown as bishop of the diocese of Newport and Menevia.
In 1895 five districts of south Wales were removed from his see and added to the new apostolic vicariate of Menevia (all of north Wales), which became a bishopric in 1898. H.'s see was thus reduced to Newport alone, which in 1916 became the archdiocese of Cardiff.
A highly gifted personality, H. distinguished himself as an erudite teacher, liturgist, director, administrator and writer. An enemy of controversy, he was a valuable exponent of orthodox doctrine and philosophy, effectively documented by his vast culture and experience. The tranquillity of his nature, his juridical mentality, his gentleness, the acuteness of his judgment, his historical sense, his freedom from prejudices, his excellent style, and his whole life won him great influence. He was among the first to advocate the admission of Catholic students, with due guarantees, to Oxford and Cambridge. In many respects he recalls the character of St. Cuthbert and of St. Bede. Noteworthy among his works are: Retreat (1894), The christian inheritance (1896), The light of life (1899), A bishop and his flock (1903) and Lex levitarum (1905).
Bibliography2 works
Enrico Ropo