Richard Enraght
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard William Enraght SSC (23 February 1837 ā 21 September 1898) was an Irish-born Church of England priest of the late nineteenth century. He was influenced by the Oxford Movement and was included amongst the priests commonly called "Second Generation" Anglo-Catholics.
Richard Enraght | |
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Born | Richard William Enraght (1837-02-23)23 February 1837 Moneymore, County Londonderry, Ireland |
Died | 21 September 1898(1898-09-21) (aged 61) |
Spouse | Dorothea |
Children | 7 |
Church | Church of England |
Ordained |
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Enraght[1] believed ritualism in worship was essential for adherence to the Church of England's Catholic tradition.[2] His religious practices and publications on Catholic worship and Church-State relationship led him into conflict with church authorities and were prosecuted under the Public Worship Regulation Act.[3][4]
Enraght's practices included adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the use of eucharistic candles, wearing of chasuble and alb, the use of wafer bread in Holy Communion, the ceremonial mixing of water and communion wine, making the sign of the Cross towards the congregation during the Holy Communion service, bowing his head at the Gloria, and allowing the Agnus Dei to be sung, all of which his Bishop forbade. These practices resulted in Enraght being prosecuted by the Church Association's lawyers and put to trial by the presiding Judge, Lord Penzance.[5][6]
Enraght refused to attend his own trial on grounds of conscience. He was found guilty and received the maximum penalty under the Act: arrest, imprisonment and dismissal from his parish.[5] The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church states, "This attempt at suppressing Ritualism so discredited the Act (in fact it created Anglo-Catholic martyrs) that it led to its being regarded as virtually obsolete." In 2006, the Brighton & Hove City Council honoured Enraght as a "Priest, fighter for religious freedom."