Previous Bishops

JOHN BRIGGS, Bishop of Beverley: consecrated as Coadjutor for the Northern District, June 29th 1833; translated from the Yorkshire District to Beverley, September 29th 1850; resigned November 7th 1860; died January 4th 1861 and buried at St. Leonard's Chapel, Hazlewood, nr. Tadcaster.

I. ROBERT CORNTHWAITE: Born in Preston on May 9th 1818;ordained priest on November 9th 1845; consecrated on November 10th 1861, as Bishop of Beverley; Appointed as the first Bishop of Leeds on December 20th 1878; died June 16th 1890 and buried at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Sicklinghall.

II. WILLIAM GORDON: Born in Thirsk on September 24th 1831; ordained priest on February 10th 1859; consecrated February 24th 1890, as Coadjutor Bishop of Leeds; succeeded to the See of Leeds on June 16th 1890; died June 7th 1911 and buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Leeds.

III. JOSEPH ROBERT COWGILL: Born in Broughton, near Skipton, on February 23rd 1860; ordained May 19th 1883; consecrated by the then Bishop of Liverpool, November 30th 1905, as Coadjutor Bishop of Leeds; succeeded to the See of Leeds on June 7th 1911; died May 12th 1936 and buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Leeds.

IV. HENRY JOHN POSKITT: Born in Birken, near Selby, on September 6th 1888; ordained priest on July 15th 1917; consecrated by the then Archbishop of Liverpool, September 21st 1936; died February 19th 1950 and buried at St. Edward's Church, Clifford.

V. JOHN CARMEL HEENAN: Born in Ilford, Essex, January 26th 1905; ordained priest on July 6th 1930; consecrated as Bishop of Leeds by the Apostolic Delegate, March 12th 1951; translated to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, May 17th 1957; translated to the Archdiocese of Westminster, September 2nd 1963; created Cardinal, February 22nd 1965; died November 7th 1975 and buried in Westminster Cathedral.

VI. GEORGE PATRICK DWYER: Born in Manchester, September 25th 1908; ordained priest on November 1st 1932; consecrated as Bishop of Leeds by Archbishop John Carmel Heenan of Liverpool, September 24th 1957; translated to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, October 7th 1965; Retired August 31st 1981; died September 17th 1987 and buried at Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield.

VII. WILLIAM GORDON WHEELER: Born in Saddleworth, May 5th 1910; ordained priest on March 31st 1940; consecrated by Archbishop Cardinale, Apostolic Delegate, March 19th 1964 as Coadjutor Bishop of Middlesbrough; translated to the See of Leeds on June 27th 1966; retired September 10th 1985; died February 20th 1998 and buried at St. Edward's Church, Clifford.

VIII. DAVID EVERY KONSTANT: born in London, June 16th 1930; ordained priest on June 12th 1954 by Cardinal Bernard Griffin; ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB, April 25th 1977; appointed Bishop of Leeds on July 23rd 1985; installed as Bishop of Leeds on September 25th 1985. Retired 7th April 2004.

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