Francis Thomson | |
---|---|
Bishop Emeritus of Motherwell | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
Diocese | Motherwell |
Appointed | 8 December 1964 |
Term ended | 14 December 1982 |
Predecessor | James Donald Scanlan |
Successor | Joseph Devine |
Orders | |
Ordination | 15 June 1946 |
Consecration | 24 February 1965 by James Donald Scanlan |
Personal details | |
Born | Francis Alexander Spalding Warden Thomson 15 May 1917 |
Died | 6 December 1987 (aged 70) Partick, Glasgow |
Buried | Motherwell Cathedral |
Nationality | Scottish |
Motto | Sperans in Domino [1] |
Francis Alexander Spalding Warden Thomson (15 May 1917 – 6 December 1987) was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Motherwell from 1964 to 1982. [2]
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 15 May 1917 and was educated at George Watson's College. He received a Master of Arts from University of Edinburgh (1938) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge (1940). He received a licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Angelicum in Rome and was ordained to the priesthood on 15 June 1946 for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. He served as a curate at St Patrick's, Kilsyth (1946–48); St James', St Andrews (1949–52) and St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh (1952–53). He was a staff member at St Andrew's College, Drygrange (1953–60) and was rector of St Mary's College, Blairs (1960–64). [3] In 1961, he was named honorary canon of St Andrews and Edinburgh. [4]
He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Motherwell by the Holy See on 8 December 1964, and consecrated to the Episcopate on 24 February 1965. The principal consecrator was Archbishop James Donald Scanlan of Glasgow, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop James Black of Paisley and Bishop Stephen McGill of Argyll and the Isles (later Bishop of Paisley). [2] He attended the final session of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. [2]
He resigned on 14 December 1982 and assumed the title Bishop Emeritus of Motherwell. He retired to Biggar as parish priest and died on 6 December 1987, aged 70. [2] [3]