Diocese of Galloway
The See of Whithorn is associated from the late fourth century with Saint Ninian but it is possible a Christian community existed there before his arrival. There was a continuous succession of bishops in the eighth century. The See was revived circa 1128 and recognised the metropolitan authority of York until 1355. It became a suffragan of St Andrew's in 1472 and of Glasgow in 1492. The See was, in effect, vacant from the death of Andrew Drurie (1541-1558) since his sucessor, Alexander Gordon, conformed at the Reformation in 1560, and it remained vacant until the restoration of the hierarchy in 1878.
Bishop Nolan (2015 - 2022)
William Nolan was born on 26th January 1954, the fourth of eleven children born to William and Catherine Nolan (both deceased). He was baptised in St Patrick’s Church, Craigneuk and educated at Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell, St Patrick’s Primary, Craigneuk, St Vincent’s College, Langbank (1965-67), and St Mary’s College, Blairs (1967-71). His senior seminary formation was at the Scots College, Rome (1971-78) where he graduated with a Licence in Sacred Theology.
Father Nolan was ordained priest for the Diocese of Motherwell on 30th June 1977. He has ministered as assistant priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, 1978-1980; assistant priest of St David’s, Plains, 1980-1983; vice-rector of the Scots College, Rome, 1983-1990; assistant priest of St Bridget’s, Baillieston, 1990-1994; parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, 1994 to February 2015. He has held the posts of chairman of the Council of Priests, 1992-1998; chairman of the Committee for Ongoing Formation of Priests, 1993-2004; administrator, St John Ogilvie, Vicar General of Motherwell Diocese, June 2014 to February 2015.
Bishop Nolan was nominated as Bishop of Galloway on 22nd November 2014 by Pope Francis, and Ordained in the Grand Hall, Kilmarnock on 14th February 2015 by Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh.
Bishop Nolan was appointed by Pope Francis as the Archbishop of Glasgow on February 4th 2022. He was translated to the Archdiocese of Glasgow on 26 February 2022.
Bishop Emeritus John Cunningham
(bishop 2004-2014)
Bishop Emeritus Maurice Taylor
(bishop 1981-2004)
Born at Paisley, 22nd February, 1938.
Died at Greenock, 1st December 2021.
Education:
Saint Mary's College, Blairs
Saint Peter's College, Cardross
Scots College, Rome (J.C.D., Gregorian University, Rome, 1964)
Priesthood:
Ordained Priest at Paisley on 29th June 1961
Assistant Priest, Our Lady of Lourdes, Bishopton, 1964-69
Extra-mural professor of Canon Law, Saint Peter's College, Cardross and Newlands (Glasgow), 1967-81
Chaplain, Moredun Convent, Paisley, 1969-74
Assistant Priest, Saint Columba's, Renfrew, 1974-86
Officialis, Scottish National Tribunal, 1986-92
Parish Priest, Saint Patrick's, Greenock, 1992-2004
Papal Chaplain, 1994
Vicar General, Diocese of Paisley, 1997-2004
Prelate of Honour, 1999
Episcopate:
Nominated Bishop of Galloway, 7th April 2004
Ordained by Keith Patrick O'Brien, Cardinal Archbishop of Saint Andrew's and Edinburgh, at Ayr, 28th May 2004.
Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on 5th May 1926.
Died at Dundonald, Ayrshire, 14th June 2023
Died at Dundonald, Ayrshire, 14th June 2023
Ordained a priest in Rome on 2nd July, 1950.
He was appointed to the staff of Saint Peter’s College, Cardross in August 1955.
From 1965 until 1974 he was rector of the Royal Scots College, Valladolid, Spain.
He was ordained Bishop of Galloway by the late Cardinal Gray at an open-air Mass at Fatima House, Coodham on 9th June1981.
Bishop Taylor is vice-president of the Catholic Institute for International Relations (now Progressio) (London).
For more than ten years he was a member of the Episcopal Board of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), representing Scotland on that body. From 1997 until 2002 he was chairman of ICEL.
Bishop Joseph Michael McGee (bishop 1952-1981)
Bishop Joseph Michael McGee: born Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, 13th December 1904; priest Valladolid, 25th May 1929; nominated bishop of Galloway, 19th July 1952 and consecrated at Dumfries 11th November 1952; resigned, 4th April 1981; died Prestwick, 5th March 1983.
Bishop William Henry Mellon (coadjutor 1935-1943; bishop 1943-1952)
Bishop Willam Henry Mellon: born Edinburgh, 6th January 1877; priest, Rome, 29th March 1902, nominated titular bishop of Daulia and coadjutor bishop of Galloway, 21st August 1935, and consecrated at Edinburgh, 28th October 1935; succeeded to Galloway, 24th December 1943, died Dumfries, 2nd February 1952.
Bishop James William McCarthy (bishop 1914-1943)
Bishop James William McCarthy: born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, 30th January 1853; priest, Glasgow, 4th May 1879; nominated bishop of Galloway, 25th May 1914, and consecrated at Dumfries, 9th June 1914; died Dumfries, 24th December 1943.
Bishop William Turner (bishop 1893-1914)
Bishop William Turner born Aberdeen, 12th December 1844; priest, Rome 26th April 1868; nominated bishop of Galloway, 16th June 1893, and consecrated at Dumfries, 25th July 1893; died Dumfries, 19th January 1914.
Bishop John McLachlan (bishop 1878-1893)
Bishop John McLachlan: born at Glasgow, 7th September 1826; priest, Rome 16th March 1850; nominated bishop of Galloway, 22nd March 1878, and consecrated at Glasgow, 23rd May 1878; died Dumfries, 16th January 1893.
