The Clergy of The Great Emigration in the British Isles (1831-1863)

Abstract

Participation of Polish clergy in the Great Emigration in the British Isles is a subject that is not widely known in Polish historiography. There is no academic analysis of their vicissitudes, and hence the author of the article thought it advisable to present it. In the period between 1831 and 1863 over 20 Polish priests were staying in Britain for a longer or shorter time. They most often reached the British Isles through France, where there was the main center of Polish emigration after the November Uprising. They were usually chaplains who had taken part in the Uprising and priests involved in the clandestine national movement of the 1840s. Polish priests lived first of all in London, where in 1842 in the Belgian chapel in London Road in Southwark Polish pastorate started working. From the beginning of its work until 1849 it was headed by Rev. Stanisław Poncjan Brzeziński. In the period between 1844 and 1848 Rev. Wincenty Kraiński of the Resurrectionist Order worked there; next Rev. Emeryk Podolski (1853, 1856-1885) and Rev. Marcin Chwaliszewski (1862-1864) were the chaplains. The remaining Polish priests fulfilled pastoral duties in a more irregular way. Holy Masses and other Church feasts celebrated by emigrant priests were a very important element supporting national and religious identity in the Polish diaspora. Priests also were members of emigrant political, educational and charitable organizations.

The article is based on studies, emigrant press and source materials from Polish and foreign record offices and libraries.