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'''William Tyler''' (June 5, 1806 – June 18, 1849) was an American [[prelate]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] who served as the first [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford|Bishop of Hartford]] (1844–1849).
'''William Tyler''' (June 5, 1806 – June 18, 1849) was an American [[prelate]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] who served as the first [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford| of Hartford]] .


==Biography==
==Biography==


=== Early Life ===
=== Early Life ===
One of eight children, Tyler was born in [[Derby, Vermont]].<ref name=catholic>{{cite news|work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]|title=Hartford|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07144a.htm}}</ref> His father was a farmer, and his mother was the sister of [[Daniel Barber (minister)|Daniel Barber]], and aunt of [[Virgil Horace Barber]], both [[Protestant]] ministers who converted to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]].<ref name=clarke>{{cite news|work=Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States|title=Right Rev. William Tyler, D.D.|last=Clarke|first=Richard Henry}}</ref> The family moved to [[Claremont, New Hampshire]], when William was a child. He converted to Catholicism at age fifteen<ref name=clarke/> or sixteen.<ref name=catholic/> He completed his [[Classics|classical]] course at the academy founded by his cousin Virgil in Claremont, and became a member of the household of Bishop [[Benedict Joseph Fenwick]], [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]], in 1826 at [[Boston, Massachusetts]], where he studied theology.<ref name=catholic/>
One of eight children, Tyler was born in [[Derby, Vermont]].<ref name=catholic>{{cite news|work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]|title=Hartford|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07144a.htm}}</ref> His father was a farmer, and his mother was the sister of [[Daniel Barber (minister)|Daniel Barber]], and aunt of [[Virgil Horace Barber]], both [[Protestant]] ministers who converted to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]].<ref name=clarke>{{cite news|work=Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States|title=Right Rev. William Tyler, D.D.|last=Clarke|first=Richard Henry}}</ref> The family moved to [[Claremont, New Hampshire]], when William was a child. He converted to Catholicism at age <ref name=/><ref name=/>
completed his [[Classics|classical]] course at academy founded by his cousin Virgil in Claremont [[ ]], [[ ]].<ref name=catholic/>


=== Priesthood ===
=== Priesthood ===
Tyler was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood by Fenwick on June 3, 1829.<ref name=hierarchy>{{cite news|work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|title=Bishop William Barber Tyler|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btyler.html}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2015}}</ref> He then served as a [[curate]] at [[Holy Cross Church, Boston|Holy Cross Cathedral]] and did [[missionary]] work in [[Aroostook County, Maine]],<ref name=clarke/> before becoming [[vicar general]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Diocese of Boston]].<ref name=catholic/>
Tyler was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood by Fenwick on June 3, 1829.<ref>{{ |title=Bishop William Barber Tyler|url=://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btyler.html |date= }}</ref> served as a [[curate]] at [[Holy Cross Church, Boston|Holy Cross Cathedral]] [[Aroostook County, Maine]]<ref name=clarke/> [[vicar general]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Diocese of Boston]].<ref name=catholic/>


=== Bishophood ===
=== Bishophood ===
On November 28, 1843, Tyler was appointed the first [[Ordinary (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] of the newly erected [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford|Diocese of Hartford]] by [[Pope Gregory XVI]].<ref name=hierarchy/> He received his [[Bishop (Catholicism)|episcopal consecration]] on March 17, 1844 from Bishop Fenwick, with Bishops [[Richard Vincent Whelan]] and [[Andrew Byrne]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]], at [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary|Assumption Cathedral]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]].<ref name=hierarchy/> Upon Tyler's arrival in [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] the following April, the diocese included the entire states of [[Connecticut]] and [[Rhode Island]], containing nearly 10,000 Catholics.<ref name=hartford>{{cite news|work=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford]]|title=History of the Archdiocese|url=http://www.archdioceseofhartford.org/archdiocesehistory.htm}}</ref> Since there were only 600 Catholics in Hartford, he soon moved his residence to [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], which had 2,000 Catholics.<ref name=catholic/> He designated [[Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence|Sts. Peter and Paul Church]] as his cathedral.<ref name=cathedral>{{cite news|work=[[Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence|Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul]]|title=Brief History of the Cathedral|url=http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/History.html}}</ref>
On November 28, 1843, Tyler was appointed the first [[Ordinary (Catholic Church)|]] of the newly erected [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford|Diocese of Hartford]] by [[Pope Gregory XVI]].<ref name=hierarchy/> He received his [[Bishop (Catholicism)|episcopal consecration]] on March 17, 1844 from Fenwick, with Bishops [[Richard Vincent Whelan]] and [[Andrew Byrne]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]], at [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary|Assumption Cathedral]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]].<ref name=hierarchy/>
, the included of [[Connecticut]] and [[Rhode Island]] 10,000 .<ref name=hartford>{{cite news|work=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford]]|title=History of the Archdiocese|url=http://www.archdioceseofhartford.org/archdiocesehistory.htm}}</ref> Since were in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], .<ref name=catholic/> He designated Peter and Paul as his cathedral.<ref name=cathedral>{{cite news|work=[[Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence|Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul]]|title=Brief History of the Cathedral|url=http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/History.html}}</ref>

⚫
than the episcopal residence, and that the little house next to the sacristy "...could easily have been drawn by oxen from one end of Providence to the other".<ref name=Prohon>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/44373860 Le Prohon, Edward P., and J. M. TOOHEY. “Memorial of the Rt. Rev. William Tyler, First Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut.” "The American Catholic Historical Researches", vol. 12, no. 1, 1895, pp. 2–10. JSTOR]</ref> use a carriage on . He food to every Monday . went out to .<ref name=Prohon/>


Lacking a talent for public speaking, he would carefully write out his homilies before mass. A non-drinker, he frequently preached the benefits of temperance, despite the irritation it caused some of his wealthier congregants.<ref name="Prohon" />
⚫
Tyler's friend and physician said that any stable would provide better protection against the seasons than the episcopal residence, and that the little house next to the sacristy "...could easily have been drawn by oxen from one end of Providence to the other".<ref name=Prohon>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/44373860 Le Prohon, Edward P., and J. M. TOOHEY. “Memorial of the Rt. Rev. William Tyler, First Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut.” "The American Catholic Historical Researches", vol. 12, no. 1, 1895, pp. 2–10. JSTOR]</ref> He dispensed with the use of a carriage and went everywhere on foot. Not a gifted orator, he carefully wrote his sermons and then read them to the congregation. He was a strict Temperance man, and his harangues against the purveyors of intoxicating drink did not make him popular with the wealthier citizens. The Bishop arranged for food to be distributed at his house every Monday to those in need. He continued to perform the services of a parish priest and went out on sick calls when he might easily have sent one of his two assistants, so as not to disappoint a parishioner or inconvenience his curates.<ref name=Prohon/>


Tyler recruited clergy from [[All Hallows College]] in Ireland, and received financial assistance from the [[Society for the Propagation of the Faith]] in [[Lyon]]s, France, and the [[Leopoldine Society]] in [[Austria]].<ref name=catholic/>
Tyler recruited clergy from [[All Hallows College]] in Ireland received financial assistance from the [[Society for the Propagation of the Faith]] in [[Lyon]]s, France, and the [[Leopoldine Society]] in [[Austria]].<ref name=catholic/>


=== Death ===
=== Death ===
His already poor health further weakened by [[Tuberculosis|consumption]], he received [[Bernard O'Reilly (bishop of Hartford)|Bernard O'Reilly]] as a [[coadjutor bishop]] and later died from [[rheumatic fever]] at the age of 45.<ref name="clarke" />
health further he [[|]] from [[rheumatic fever]] at age 45.<ref name="clarke" />


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:15, 14 January 2025

For other people with the same name, see William Tyler.

Right Rev. William Tyler
Bishop of Hartford
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeHartford
In officeMarch 17, 1844 – June 18, 1849
Predecessornone
SuccessorBernard O'Reilly
Orders
OrdinationJune 3, 1829
ConsecrationMarch 17, 1844
Personal details
Born(1806-06-05)June 5, 1806
Derby, Vermont
DiedJune 18, 1849(1849-06-18) (aged 43)
Providence, Rhode Island
SignatureRight Rev. William Tyler's signature

William Tyler (June 5, 1806 – June 18, 1849) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Hartford in Connecticut from 1844 until his death in 1849.

Biography

Early Life

One of eight children, William Tyler was born on June 5, 1806, in Derby, Vermont.[1] His father was a farmer, and his mother was the sister of Daniel Barber, and aunt of Virgil Horace Barber, both Protestant ministers who converted to the Catholic Church.[2] The family moved to Claremont, New Hampshire, when William was a child. He converted to Catholicism at age 15 or 16.[1][2]

Tyler completed his classical course at an academy founded by his cousin Virgil in Claremont. Tyler in 1826 travelled to Boston, Massachusetts, to study theology under Bishop Benedict Fenwick.[1]

Priesthood

Tyler was ordained to the priesthood in Boston by Fenwick on June 3, 1829.[3] After his ordination, Tyler served as a curate at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston. He then went to Aroostook County in the far north of Maine to perform missionary work.[2] After his return to Boston, Fenwick appointed him as vicar general of the Diocese of Boston.[1]

Bishophood

On November 28, 1843, Tyler was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Hartford by Pope Gregory XVI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on March 17, 1844 from Fenwick, with Bishops Richard Whelan and Andrew Byrne serving as co-consecrators, at Assumption Cathedral in Baltimore, Maryland.[4]

At this time, the new Diocese of Hartford included all of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The total Catholic population of the diocese was close to 10,000, but only 600 lived in the Hartford area.[5] Since 2,000 Catholics were living in Providence, Rhode Island, Tyler decided to move the episcopal see there.[1] He designated the first Sts. Peter and Paul Church in that city as his cathedral.[6]

As bishop in Providence, Tyler lived modestly. A friend remarked that a stable was more weather-proof than the episcopal residence, and that the little house next to the sacristy "...could easily have been drawn by oxen from one end of Providence to the other".[7] Tyler refused to use a carriage, insisted on walking everywhere. He distributed food to the needy every Monday at his residence. Tyler went out to visit the sick in their homes rather than delegating the job to his other priests.[7]

Lacking a talent for public speaking, he would carefully write out his homilies before mass. A non-drinker, he frequently preached the benefits of temperance, despite the irritation it caused some of his wealthier congregants.[7]

With the establishment of mills and factories in Southern New England in the 1830's, more Catholic Irish and French-Canadian immigrants started arriving in Rhode Island and Connecticut. At that time, there were few seminaries in the United States that were graduating priests. Tyler recruited clergy from All Hallows College in Ireland to minister to these Catholics. He also received financial assistance from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in Lyons, France, and the Leopoldine Society in Austria.[1]

Death

Tyler's fragile health was further compromised after he contracted tuberculosis. He died on June 18, 1849, from rheumatic fever at age 45.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Hartford". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ a b c d Clarke, Richard Henry. "Right Rev. William Tyler, D.D.". Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States.
  3. ^ "Bishop William Barber Tyler [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Bishop William Barber Tyler". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  5. ^ "History of the Archdiocese". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford.
  6. ^ "Brief History of the Cathedral". Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
  7. ^ a b c Le Prohon, Edward P., and J. M. TOOHEY. “Memorial of the Rt. Rev. William Tyler, First Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut.” "The American Catholic Historical Researches", vol. 12, no. 1, 1895, pp. 2–10. JSTOR
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
None
 Bishop of Hartford
1844–1849 		Succeeded by
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