Ignatius A. Reynolds

Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds (August 22, 1798 – March 9, 1855) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston from 1844 until his death in 1855.

Right Rev. Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds
Bishop of Charleston
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Charleston
In office	March 19, 1844—March 9, 1855
Predecessor	John England
Successor	Patrick Neeson Lynch
Orders
Ordination	October 24, 1823
Consecration	March 19, 1844
Personal details
Born	August 22, 1798 Bardstown, Kentucky
Died	March 9, 1855 (aged 56) Charleston, South Carolina

Life

Reynolds was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, to John and Ann French Reynolds. He enrolled at the theological seminary there at an early age.[1] In December 1821 he entered St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, where he was later ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Ambrose Maréchal, P.S.S., on October 24, 1823.[2]

Following his return to Kentucky, Reynolds served as president of St. Joseph's College until 1830, when he succeeded Francis Kenrick as professor of theology at the Bardstown seminary.[1] He also served as rector of the Cathedral of the Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky). He later became superior of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, and vicar general of the diocese.[3]

On November 28, 1843, Reynolds was appointed the second Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, by Pope Gregory XVI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on March 19, 1844 from Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, with Bishops Michael O'Connor, S.J. and Richard Pius Miles, O.P., serving as co-consecrators, at Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati, Ohio.[4] During his tenure Reynolds brought stability to the diocesan administration.[2] He conducted visitations of the entire diocese, which then included both Carolinas and Georgia.[1]

These areas were dominated by Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodists; there were only about 12,000 Catholics in the diocese in 1846.[1] Reynolds published a five-volume work on his popular predecessor John England, erased the $14,000 debt the same England had incurred, and dedicated the Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar in April 1854.[5]

Reynolds died in 1855 at age 56.

References

1. Clarke, Richard Henry. "RIGHT REV. IGNATIUS ALOYSIUS REYNOLDS, D.D.". Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States.
2. "Bishop Ignatius A. Reynolds (1844-1855). Diocese of Charleston
3. "Historical Records and Studies". United States Catholic Historical Society.
4. "Bishop Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
5. "Charleston". Catholic Encyclopedia.