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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.

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Provinces and dioceses

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Province of Dublin

[edit] Province of Tuam

Achonry
Clonfert
Killala
Kilmacduagh
Mayo: merged with Tuam 1202
Roscommon moved to Elphin 1156
Tuam

Annaghdown was created c1179

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sources

Peter Galloway, The Cathedrals of Ireland, Belfast 1992

[edit] External links

The Dioceses of Ireland, Territorial History (Rootsweb)

[0] Curtis, Edmund (2002). A History of Ireland from Earliest Times to 1922. New York: Routledge. pp. 38-39. ISBN 0 415 27949 6.

[1] Curtis, Edmund (2002). A History of Ireland from Earliest Times to 1922. New York: Routledge. pp. 38-39. ISBN 0 415 27949 6.

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