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The origin of the Diocese of Utrecht dates back to 695 when St. Willibrord was consecrated Bishop of the Frisians by [[Pope Sergius I]] in Rome, at Church of S.Cecilia and, with the consent of the Frankish king, settled at the market-town of Utrecht. After Willibrord's death St. Boniface repeatedly gave his attention to the Church of Utrecht without, however, being its bishop. Under the guidance of his friend St. Gregory, the school founded by St. Willibrord became a noted centre of Christian education for the northern part of the Frankish kingdom. During the early years of its existence the diocese suffered greatly from the incursions of the heathen Frisians, and in the ninth and tenth centuries from the plundering expeditions of the Normans, who traversed the territory robbing and burning as they went. Better times appeared during the supremacy of the Saxon emperors, who esteemed the Bishops of Utrecht highly, and frequently summoned them to attend the imperial councils and diets. Through the grants of land and privileges bestowed by these emperors the Bishops of Utrecht became secular princes, and were among the most powerful feudal lords of the north-western part of the empire. From 1024 Bishops were also Princes of the Holy Roman Empire and the '''prince-Bishopric of Utrecht''' was one of the ecclesiastical principalities of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], and included not only the present day [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], but also the provinces of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], [[Drenthe]], and [[Overijssel]]. Like the other German bishops, they became involved in the quarrels of the emperors and popes. The Concordat of Worms (1122) annulled the emperor's right of investiture, and the cathedral chapter received the right to the free election of the bishop. It was, however, soon obligated to share this right with the four other collegiate chapters which existed in the city of Utrecht. The Counts of Holland and Geldern, between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes at the election of the bishops, and it was but seldom that capable and worthy men gained the See of St. Willibrord. Consequently the Holy See frequently interfered in the election, and after the middle of the fourteenth century repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters. During the Great Schism of the West in the latter quarter of the fourteenth century in the Diocese of Utrecht Bishop Arnold II of Horn was opposed by a rival bishop, Floris of Wevelinkhofen, and renounced his claims to Utrecht only when was raised to the See of Liege. In [[1527]], the Bishop sold his territories to [[Emperor Charles V]], and the territory became part of the Habsburg Netherlands. In [[1701]] Archbishop Petrus Codde was [[excommunicate]]d by the Pope, having been accused of being a [[Jansenism|Jansenist]]. He continued as Archbishop, and due to an irregularity in the Diocese's constitution which allowed it to elect its own bishops, his successors remained out of Communion with the Papacy. This was the beginning of what would become the [[Old Catholic Church]]. In [[1853]] the Vatican re-established its own hierarchy in the Netherlands, unofficially called the "New Catholic Church".
The origin of the Diocese of Utrecht dates back to 695 when [[Willibrordus|St. Willibrord]] was consecrated Bishop of the Frisians by [[Pope Sergius I]] in Rome, at [[Church of S.Cecilia]] and, with the consent of the Frankish king, settled at the market-town of [[Utrecht]]. After Willibrord's death St. Boniface repeatedly gave his attention to the Church of Utrecht without, however, being its bishop. Under the guidance of his friend St. Gregory, the school founded by [[Willibrordus|St. Willibrord]] became an important centre of Christian education for the northern part of the Frankish kingdom. During the early years of its existence the diocese suffered greatly from the incursions of the heathen Frisians, and in the ninth and tenth centuries from the plundering expeditions of the Normans, who traversed the territory robbing and burning as they went. Better times appeared during the reign of the Saxon emperors, who esteemed the Bishops of Utrecht highly, and frequently summoned them to attend the imperial councils and diets. Through the grants of land and privileges bestowed by these emperors the Bishops of Utrecht became, in 1024, Princes of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and the '''prince-Bishopric of Utrecht''' included not only the present day [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], but also the provinces of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], [[Drenthe]], and [[Overijssel]]. Like the other German bishops, they became involved in the quarrels of the emperors and popes. The Concordat of Worms (1122) annulled the emperor's right of investiture, and the cathedral chapter received the right to the free election of the bishop. It was, however, soon obligated to share this right with the four other collegiate chapters which existed in the city of Utrecht. The Counts of Holland and Geldern, between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes at the election of the bishops, and it was but seldom that capable and worthy men gained the See of St. Willibrord. Consequently the Holy See frequently interfered in the election, and after the middle of the fourteenth century repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters. During the Great Schism of the West in the latter quarter of the fourteenth century in the Diocese of Utrecht Bishop Arnold II of Horn was opposed by a rival bishop, Floris of Wevelinkhofen, and renounced his claims to Utrecht only when was raised to the See of Liege. In [[1527]], the Bishop sold his territories to [[Emperor Charles V]], and the territory became part of the Habsburg Netherlands. In [[1701]] Archbishop Petrus Codde was [[excommunicate]]d by the Pope, having been accused of being a [[Jansenism|Jansenist]]. He continued as Archbishop, and due to an irregularity in the Diocese's constitution which allowed it to elect its own bishops, his successors remained out of Communion with the Papacy. This was the beginning of what would become the [[Old Catholic Church]]. In [[1853]] the Vatican re-established its own hierarchy in the Netherlands, unofficially called the "New Catholic Church".


== Bishops & Archbishop ==
== Bishops & Archbishop ==

Revision as of 17:01, 23 May 2005

The origin of the Diocese of Utrecht dates back to 695 when St. Willibrord was consecrated Bishop of the Frisians by Pope Sergius I in Rome, at Church of S.Cecilia and, with the consent of the Frankish king, settled at the market-town of Utrecht. After Willibrord's death St. Boniface repeatedly gave his attention to the Church of Utrecht without, however, being its bishop. Under the guidance of his friend St. Gregory, the school founded by St. Willibrord became an important centre of Christian education for the northern part of the Frankish kingdom. During the early years of its existence the diocese suffered greatly from the incursions of the heathen Frisians, and in the ninth and tenth centuries from the plundering expeditions of the Normans, who traversed the territory robbing and burning as they went. Better times appeared during the reign of the Saxon emperors, who esteemed the Bishops of Utrecht highly, and frequently summoned them to attend the imperial councils and diets. Through the grants of land and privileges bestowed by these emperors the Bishops of Utrecht became, in 1024, Princes of the Holy Roman Empire and the prince-Bishopric of Utrecht included not only the present day Dutch province of Utrecht, but also the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel. Like the other German bishops, they became involved in the quarrels of the emperors and popes. The Concordat of Worms (1122) annulled the emperor's right of investiture, and the cathedral chapter received the right to the free election of the bishop. It was, however, soon obligated to share this right with the four other collegiate chapters which existed in the city of Utrecht. The Counts of Holland and Geldern, between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes at the election of the bishops, and it was but seldom that capable and worthy men gained the See of St. Willibrord. Consequently the Holy See frequently interfered in the election, and after the middle of the fourteenth century repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters. During the Great Schism of the West in the latter quarter of the fourteenth century in the Diocese of Utrecht Bishop Arnold II of Horn was opposed by a rival bishop, Floris of Wevelinkhofen, and renounced his claims to Utrecht only when was raised to the See of Liege. In 1527, the Bishop sold his territories to Emperor Charles V, and the territory became part of the Habsburg Netherlands. In 1701 Archbishop Petrus Codde was excommunicated by the Pope, having been accused of being a Jansenist. He continued as Archbishop, and due to an irregularity in the Diocese's constitution which allowed it to elect its own bishops, his successors remained out of Communion with the Papacy. This was the beginning of what would become the Old Catholic Church. In 1853 the Vatican re-established its own hierarchy in the Netherlands, unofficially called the "New Catholic Church".

Bishops & Archbishop

Apostolic Vicars & Bishops in partibus

Old Catholic Archbishops

Roman Catholic Archbishops

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