MEMORIAL TO BISHOP HEDLEY

New Zealand Tablet, 28 March 1918, Page 38

MEMORIAL TO BISHOP HEDLEY

A Solemn Requiem Mass (Coram Archiepiscopo) was sung at Belmont Cathedral, Hereford, England, recently for the repose of the soul of the late Right Rev. John Cuthbert Hedley, 0.5.8., D.D., Bishop of Newport, and on the same occasion the newly-erected monument in Belmont Cathedral to the deceased Bishop was unveiled. ;' The Mass was sung by Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, V.G., who was assisted by the Revs. Dom Placid Smith, 0.5.8., deacon, and Anthony Robinson, 0.5.8., subdeacon. Attending his Grace the Archbishop of Cardiff were the Prior of Belmont, Canon Duggan, 0.5.8., and Canon Buggins, 0.5.8. At the conclusion of the Mass, Rev. Dr. Anselm Wilson, 0.5.8. (St. Illtyd's, Dowlais), gave an eloquent panegyric of Bishop Hedley. The preacher outlined the life and work of the deceased Rishop and analysed his contribution to Catholic literature. The final absolutions were given by the Archbishop of Cardiff near the newly-erected monument. The monument consists of a raised tomb in the centre of the Cathedral choir, and is constructed of white alabaster and Irish black marble, surmounted by a recumbent effigy of the Bishop. The sides of the tomb are divided into panels, the divisions being made by fluted marble pilasters. Each panel contains a shield, and within the shield is a circular wreath. The ends of the tomb also have similar panels and shields. Each of the eight shields bears coat of arms, except one which contains the monogram (J. C. H.) of Bishop Hedley. The arms in other shields are those of Bishop Hedley, Ampleforth Abbey, the Benedictine Order, the English Benedictine Congregation, St. Thomas of Hereford, the Chapter of Newport, and Belmont Priory. . The recumbent figure is in Clunch stone and rests on a slab of black marble. The style of the whole monument is that of the early Renaissance, and it is the work of Mr. Frederick A. Walters, P.S.A.