The Synod of Kells took place in AD 1152, under the presidency of Cardinal Paparoni, and continued the process begun at the Synod of Rathbreasail of reforming the Irish church. The sessions were divided between the abbeys of Kells and Mellifont, and in later times the synod has been called the Synod of Kells-Mellifont and the Synod of Kells/Mellifont.
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Background
Maelmaedoc O’Morgair, know as St. Malachy was made a priest in 1119, as vicar to Celsus. His first see was Connor, and made Bangor his head-quarters. On the death of Celsus in 1129, he named Malachy his successor in Armagh eventually being put in procession of the arch-see. Later he would resign his position to his successor Gelasius. In 1137, Gelasius, due to papal confirmation of these changes was lacking sent Malachy to Rome to secure the archbishop’s pallium, a collar of lamb's wool which an archbishop must receive at the hands of the Pope or his legate before Rome accepts him. When Malachy reached Rome the Pope, Innocent II would only grant the pallia at the request of a national synod, and to facilitate its convening made Malachy papal legate. Malachy then returned to Ireland accompanied by a number of Cistercian monks provided by St. Bernard. [1]
The synod of Kells
In 1148 the synod of bishops was assembled at Inispatric, and again sent Malachy for the pallia, but he died on the way at Clairvaux in November, and the pallia remained un-granted until a full national synod was summoned to Kells in 1152. The synod of Kells went on then to consecrate four archbishops and give them the pallia. High king Turloch and the princes of Ireland at this assembly the gave approval to the decrees issued by the legate from Rome, Cardinal John Paparo. The island was divided into thirty-six sees, and instead of two archbishoprics four were given the pallia by Paparo, namely, Armagh, Cashel, Tuam, and Dublin. Armagh being supreme over all of them. The arch-see of Leinster instead of Glendalough, was located in Dublin in order to detach the Ostmen from Canterbury. Gregory, the present bishop, accepted the new title and Ostman separatism came to an end. [2]
The diocesan system
The diocesan system was further reorganised, with the number of metropolitan provinces being increased from two to four, by raising the dioceses of Dublin and Tuam to archdioceses. The four provinces of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin and Tuam corresponded to the contemporary boundaries of the provinces of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht respectively.
The diocesan structure established by the synod largely survived until the sixteenth century, and still forms the basis of the territorial structure of both the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant Church of Ireland, with many of the sees now merged.
Provinces and dioceses
Province of Armagh
- Ardagh: reduced in size by creation of Diocese of Kells
- Armagh
- Clonard: confirmed as see for East Meath
- Connor
- Dar-Luis: status of area uncertain
- Down
- Duleek
- Kells: established as see for the Kingdom of Breifne. Absorbed by Diocese of Meath in 1211
- Louth: see moved from Clogher and area extended at the expense of Armagh. See returned to Clogher by 1192
- Maghera: see transferred to Derry in 1254
- Raphoe: created in the late 12th century subsequent to the synod
Province of Cashel
- Ardfert: lost territory to Scattery Island
- Cashel
- Cloyne: formed from part of Cork
- Cork: lost territory to Cloyne and Ross
- Emly
- Kilfenora: formed from part of Diocese of Killaloe; corresponded with the sub-kingdom of Corco Mruiad
- Killaloe: lost territory to new dioceses of Kilfenora, Roscrea and Scattery Island
- Limerick: lost territory to Scattery Island
- Lismore: formed from part of Waterford
- Roscrea: formed from part of Killaloe, only existed until the 1160s
- Ross: formed from part of Cork
- Scattery Island: formed from parts of Ardfert, Killaloe and Limerick. Incorporated into Limerick by end of 12th century
- Waterford: lost territory to create Lismore
Province of Dublin
Province of Tuam
- Achonry
- Clonfert
- Killala
- Kilmacduagh
- Mayo: merged with Tuam 1202
- Roscommon moved to Elphin 1156
- Tuam
- Annaghdown was created c1179
Notes
- ^ Curtis, Edmund (2002). A History of Ireland from Earliest Times to 1922. New York: Routledge. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0 415 27949 6.
- ^ Curtis, Edmund (2002). A History of Ireland from Earliest Times to 1922. New York: Routledge. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0 415 27949 6.
Sources
- Peter Galloway, The Cathedrals of Ireland, Belfast 1992
External links
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