Changes

In the late 19th century, many English Christians, mainly [[Anglican Communion|Anglicans]], who had newly become affiliated with the Theosophical Society, were unwelcome in the churches where they had been worshiping. They sought a place of Christian worship, along with freedom of interpretation, in the English branch of the European Old Catholic Church, centered upon [[Utrecht]] in the Netherlands.  

In the late 19th century, many English Christians, mainly [[Anglican Communion|Anglicans]], who had newly become affiliated with the Theosophical Society, were unwelcome in the churches where they had been worshiping. They sought a place of Christian worship, along with freedom of interpretation, in the English branch of the European Old Catholic Church, centered upon [[Utrecht]] in the Netherlands.  

===Old Catholic Church===

===Old Catholic Church===

The Old Catholic Church itself had been formed when Dutch “Old Roman Catholics,” independent from Rome since 1724, had combined with the hundreds of thousands of European Catholics who rejected the doctrine of the Papal Infallibility proclaimed at the [[First Vatican Council]] (1871). The members of this resulting Christian Communion declared themselves to be “Old Catholics” as distinct from those Catholics who accepted the [[dogma]] of the doctrine of the [[infallibility]] of the Bishop of Rome when speaking [[Ex-cathedra|ex-Cathedra]] on questions of faith and morals.  

The Old Catholic Church itself had been formed when Dutch “Old Roman Catholics,” independent from Rome since 1724, had combined with the hundreds of thousands of European Catholics who rejected the doctrine of the Papal Infallibility proclaimed at the [[First Vatican Council]] (1871). The members of this resulting Christian Communion declared themselves to be “Old Catholics” as distinct from those Catholics who accepted the [[dogma]] of the doctrine of the [[Papal Infallibility|infallibility]] of the Bishop of Rome when speaking [[Ex-cathedra|ex-Cathedra]] on questions of faith and morals.

 

===Arnold Harris Mathew===

===Arnold Harris Mathew===

The Old Catholic bishops, convinced that substantial numbers of disgruntled English Catholics were eager to give allegiance to Utrecht, consecrated [[Arnold Harris Mathew]] as bishop in charge of their new English branch. Mathew, an urbane, cultivated and deeply devotional Englishman who had served for a long time as a legitimately ordained priest in the Catholic church, and for a shorter time in the Anglican Church, was full of hope for the new English venture. However, the Old Catholic bishops and their new English colleague were all disappointed, for their expectation of a flow of eager new members was not realized. When numbers did begin to grow, a few years later, almost all of those entering were those Anglican theosophists who had been unwelcome in their churches, who were seeking to continue their participation in the sacramental life of the Church without having to conceal their theosophical convictions. Mathew made them welcome. First came the young James Wedgwood, soon to followed by increasing numbers of his theosophical colleagues, including Charles Leadbeater. But Mathew's maturing plan to return to Rome, bringing his congregation with him, led him to realize how unacceptable his theosophically tainted flock would be. He was given an ultimatum to withdraw from the Theosophical Society or from the Old Catholic Church, left him stranded, without popular support.  

The Old Catholic bishops, convinced that substantial numbers of disgruntled English Catholics were eager to give allegiance to Utrecht, consecrated [[Arnold Harris Mathew]] as bishop in charge of their new English branch. Mathew, an urbane, cultivated and deeply devotional Englishman who had served for a long time as a legitimately ordained priest in the Catholic church, and for a shorter time in the Anglican Church, was full of hope for the new English venture. However, the Old Catholic bishops and their new English colleague were all disappointed, for their expectation of a flow of eager new members was not realized. When numbers did begin to grow, a few years later, almost all of those entering were those Anglican theosophists who had been unwelcome in their churches, who were seeking to continue their participation in the sacramental life of the Church without having to conceal their theosophical convictions. Mathew made them welcome. First came the young James Wedgwood, soon to followed by increasing numbers of his theosophical colleagues, including Charles Leadbeater. But Mathew's maturing plan to return to Rome, bringing his congregation with him, led him to realize how unacceptable his theosophically tainted flock would be. He was given an ultimatum to withdraw from the Theosophical Society or from the Old Catholic Church, left him stranded, without popular support.