Item 26 - Bishop to Fr Reid: Announcing the Augustinian departure from St Mary's Great Yarmouth

Identity area

Reference code

GB ARCHON 2913 PA19-01-04-26

Title

Bishop to Fr Reid: Announcing the Augustinian departure from St Mary's Great Yarmouth

Date(s)

  • 21-11-1994 (Creation)

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Item

Extent and medium

1 page; headed; typescript

Context area

Name of creator

(1976-1995)

Biographical history

The Right Reverend Alan Charles Clark was born of convert parents in Bickley, Kent on 9th August 1919. When young he contracted polio and was taken to Lourdes. He made a recovery and set his sights on the priesthood. He studied at the Venerable English College in Rome and was ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 11 February 1945 (The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes). He was involved in the Second Vatican Council as a peritus and was later to become the Vice-Rector of his old seminary in Rome. From there he would return to his Diocese of Southwark where he became Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christian, Blackheath, Kent before being selected as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Northampton with the Titular See of Elmham.

Bishop Clark was named the Co-chairman of ARCIC (Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission). As the first bishop of the new diocese, he had to set up all the necessary instruments and commissions for the diocese. The diocesan offices and diocesan tribunal were at The White House in Poringland near Norwich. This estate had been given to the Diocese of Northampton by the Birkbeck Family. It was the residence of the retired Bishop of Northampton, The Rt Revd Leo Parker.

Bishop Clark continued in office until his seventy-fifth birthday made it mandatory for him to tender his resignation to the Holy See in 1994. This was accepted on 21st March, 1995 and at that point he became Bishop Emeritus. He retired to a house built in the grounds and died in the 16th July, 2002 at the age of eighty-two. He was buried near the Slipper Chapel in Walsingham, Norfolk.

Archival history

RCDEAA holding XEA12 - not recorded individually prior to 2019 system

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Scope and content

Prefer the 2nd Sunday of Advent since the 3rd is normally for his pastoral letter. Hoping the departure would not be for 12 months or after Christmas and in the New Year. Speaking for his successor he would like the departure sharp and abrupt and wants Fr Reid to advise him. His heart is heavy at their going away.

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      PA19

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      Related units of description

      A4

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      Status

      Draft

      Level of detail

      Minimal

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