Bishop Hugh Lindsay RIP
Bishop Hugh Lindsay, Bishop Emeritus of Hexham and Newcastle, died on 19 January 2009. Requiescat in pace.
Bishop Lindsay was Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle from 1974 to 1992.
A short Biography
Hugh Lindsay was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 20 June 1927. His primary schools were St Charles’, Gosforth (1932) and (1936) St. Andrew’s, Newcastle. At St Cuthbert’s Grammar School from 1938 until 1943, he was with a non-Catholic family in Cockermouth when the school was evacuated there from 1939 until 1941.
He was accepted as a Church student at Ushaw in 1943. Under war-time regulations he was conscripted for military service and served in the RAF, mainly in India, from September 1945 until January 1948 when he returned to his studies at Ushaw.
Ordained priest by Bishop McCormack at St Mary’s Cathedral on 19 July 1953, he was appointed to St Lawrence’s, Byker, and to work at Bishop’s House, which continued when he was sent to Ponteland in 1954. Bishop Cunningham appointed him diocesan secretary, resident at Bishop’s House from 7 March 1959.
Pope Paul VI appointed him auxiliary bishop to the ailing Bishop Cunningham, and he was ordained bishop in St Mary’s Cathedral on 11 December 1969. After Bishop Cunningham’s death in July 1974, the Chapter elected him Vicar Capitular; then Pope Paul VI named him Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle on 12 December 1974. Ill-health made him resign; he was succeeded by Bishop Ambrose Griffiths on 20 March 1992. Since then, he has been chaplain to the Augustinian Sisters at Grange-over-Sands.
Bishop Hugh Lindsay died on 19 January 2009 at Grange-over-Sands.
Tribute to Bishop Hugh Lindsay, Bishop Emeritus of Hexham and Newcastle
Even after his retirement Bishop Hugh Lindsay was a familar and well-loved figure to all the priests and people of Hexham and Newcastle Diocese. Bishop-elect Seamus Cunningham paid a special personal tribute to the Bishop Emeritus:
“I found Bishop Hugh Lindsay a very good bishop - I could really trust him and talk to him in confidence and express exactly how I felt and I knew he was listening.
“One of his favourite expressions was 'You know me, I was always just...' and you knew this was true. I felt he was 'always just...' Another expression he used often was 'Speak the truth with love.'
“I found him a great help and support throughout my priestly life. He gave me some tough and challenging appointments - but at the same time I was free to express my fears and anxieties and felt the better for having expressed them, realising that he had listened and was with me in my struggle. I accepted those appointments and embraced the challenges and grew through them. I’m grateful to him for being with me on that journey of growth.
“I always found him a source of real strength and understanding, and particularly at the time of Bishop Kevin’s illness and death when he gave me tremendous support.
“During the last few weeks, especially, I have been so grateful for his encouragement, care and wisdom. He gave me many useful tips and lots of good advice. I had great confidence in him and he will be sorely missed.”Bishop-elect Seamus Cunningham
Bishop Emeritus Hugh Lindsay clearly loved the diocese and continued to take an active interest in it, attending ordinations, jubilee celebrations and similar occasions here. Battling against ill health in the last year he remained positive and cheerful, increasing rather than decreasing the activities he was committed to.
With Bishop Kevin and Bishop Ambrose at St Mary's Cathedral
Never reluctant to embrace new technologies he was very web savvy - and an expert email user. Indeed for the last six months he sent a regular daily e-homily to a mailing list of subscribers - the text of which was taken from his homily for the following day at Grange-over-Sands. He was still sending these out the day before he died: "Never fear God’s call for us to reach to the heights. He knows it will take time and He will be patient as He helps us to get there" was his finishing passage for his last e-homily for 19 January.
He enjoyed keeping in touch with the diocese through the diocesan website, and encouraged the use of new media and methods of spreading the Gospel.
On a number of occasions the diocese enjoyed seeing Bishop Kevin, Bishop Hugh and Bishop Ambrose join together at St Mary's Cathedral to celebrate very special diocesan occasions. On a sadder note, following the death of Bishop Kevin, the diocese really appreciated Bishop Hugh's willingness to come and preside at the Chrism mass and Easter in 2008 at St Mary's Cathedral.
He will be sadly missed by all the diocese; his wisdom, encouragement and guidance were special to us all.
Jubilee Celebrations in St Mary's Cathedral in 2003