George Dwyer

George Patrick Dwyer (25 September 1908 – 17 September 1987) was an English prelate and the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, England. Dwyer served as the sixth Archbishop of Birmingham from 1965 to 1981, succeeding Francis Grimshaw. Before that, Dwyer had served as the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, between 1957 and 1965, being succeeded by William Wheeler.[1][2]

The Most Reverend George Dwyer
Archbishop emeritus of Birmingham
Church	Latin Church
Archdiocese	Birmingham
See	Birmingham
Appointed	5 October 1965
Installed	5 October 1965
Term ended	1 September 1981
Predecessor	Francis Grimshaw
Successor	Maurice Couve de Murville
Other posts	Bishop of Leeds (1957–1965)
Orders
Ordination	1 November 1932
Consecration	24 September 1957 by John Carmel Heenan
Personal details
Born	25 September 1908 Manchester, England
Died	17 September 1987 (aged 78) Birmingham, England
Buried	St Mary's College, Oscott
Nationality	British
Denomination	Catholic
Parents	John William Dwyer Jemima Dwyer
Alma mater	English College, Rome Christ's College, Cambridge Pontifical Gregorian University
Motto	Spe Gaudentes (Rejoicing in Hope)

Styles of George Patrick Dwyer
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace
Religious style	Archbishop

Ordination history of George Dwyer
History Priestly ordination Date 1 November 1932 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator John Carmel Heenan (Liverpool) Co-consecrators George Beck (Salford) Cyril Restieaux (Plymouth) Date 24 September 1957
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by George Dwyer as principal consecrator Anthony Emery 4 March 1968 Patrick Leo McCartie 20 May 1977

Early Life and ministry

The son of John William Dwyer, a wholesale egg and potato merchant, and his wife Jemima, he was also a cousin by marriage of Anthony Burgess,[3] he was educated at St Bede's College, Manchester (1919–26), then at the Venerable English College, Rome after being accepted by the Salford Diocese as a candidate for the priesthood. Dwyer proved an outstanding student, and was awarded doctorates in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds on 1 November 1932, and returned to England to study languages at Christ's College, Cambridge.[4]

Following postgraduate studies in Rome and Cambridge from 1932 to 1937, he returned to St Bede's as a member of the teaching staff before joining the Catholic Missionary Society as vice-superior in 1947. He also edited the Catholic Gazette for four years until his appointment as Superior of the Catholic Missionary Society in 1951.

Episcopal career

He was consecrated bishop on 24 September 1957 by John Carmel Heenan (then the Archbishop of Liverpool) following his appointment as Bishop of Leeds where he succeeded Heenan who had previously served a term of eight years in Leeds. During his time in this diocese , Dwyer served as a Council Father for the first three sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

In October 1965, Dwyer was translated to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham to serve as the sixth Archbishop of Birmingham. In his new role he also took part in the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council.

After the death of John Carmel Heenan (who was a close friend of Dwyer's) in 1975, Dwyer was seen by some as a natural successor as Archbishop of Westminster. However, Dwyer informed the Apostolic Delegate he felt that at sixty-seven his age was too great for him to be considered for the post. He was, however, elected president of the Bishops' Conference during the first three years of Basil Hume's episcopate, becoming the first bishop to hold that position who was not also Archbishop of Westminster.[4]

His coat of arms is blazoned, 'Argent on a saltire Gules a jousting spear Or' thus incorporating the names of St Patrick and St George. His motto was Spe Gaudentes (Rejoicing in Hope).

Later life and Death

Dwyer retired as Archbishop of Birmingham on 1 September 1981, taking up the title Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham

Dwyer died on 17 September 1987 at the age of 78. He was subsequently buried at St Mary's College, Oscott on 24 September 1987.

References

1. http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/26th-september-1987/30/archbishop-dwyer
2. The Birmingham Post Year Book and Who's Who 1973-74, Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd, July 1973
3. "Liana Burgess", Daily Telegraph, 6 December 2007 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1571513/Liana-Burgess.html .
4. Worlock, Derek (2004). "Dwyer, George Patrick (1908–1987)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 20 December 2007.

External links

• "Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney.
• Diocese of Leeds