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{{Infobox Christian leader<br />
| type = Bishop<br />
| name = Mervyn Alexander<br />
| title = <br />
| image = Mervyn Alexander.png<br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| church = [[Diocese of Clifton]]<br />
| archdiocese = <br />
| diocese = <br />
| see = <br />
| term = 1974 – 2001<br />
<!-- Orders --><br />
| ordination = 18 July 1948<br />
| ordinated_by = <br />
| consecration = <br />
| consecrated_by = <br />
| rank = <br />
<!-- Personal details --><br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1925|6|29}}<br />
| birth_place = London, England<br />
| death_place = {{Death date and age|df=y|2010|8|14|1925|6|29}}<br />
| previous_post = Prelate<br />
}}<br />
{{Infobox bishop styles<br />
| bishop name = Mervyn Alexander<br />
| dipstyle = [[Right Reverend|The Right Reverend]]<br />
| offstyle = [[Lord Bishop|My Lord]]<br />
| relstyle = [[Bishop (Catholicism)|Bishop]]<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1923|5|12}}<br />
| birth_place = Wadi Sette, Lebanon<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2015|8|26|1923|5|12}}<br />
| death_place = <br />
| previous_post = Prelate<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Mervyn Alban Alexander''' (29 June 1925 – 14 August 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-10979348|title=Former Bishop of Clifton Mervyn Alexander dies, aged 85|publisher=The BBC|date=15 August 2010|accessdate=15 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://catholicassociation.blogspot.com/2010/08/please-pray-for.html|title=Please pray for....|publisher=Catholic Association|date=17 August 2010|accessdate=13 September 2010}}</ref>) was the Bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton]] from 1974 to 2001.<br />
<br />
He was born on 29 June 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. In 1926 the family moved from London to [[Salisbury, Wiltshire|Salisbury]], Wiltshire.<br />
<br />
==Education/priesthood==<br />
He began his education at [[Bishop Wordsworth's School]] in Salisbury. He later attended [[Prior Park College]], Bath, then run by the Irish Christian Brothers. He trained for the priesthood at the [[Venerable English College]], Rome and was ordained Priest on 18 July 1948 in the [[Roman Colleges#Collegio Apostolico Leoniano|Leonine College]], Rome. He continued his theological studies at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]], Rome, and obtained his Doctorate in Divinity in 1951.<br />
<br />
Returning to England he was appointed curate in the Pro-Cathedral parish where he served from 1951 to 1964. He acted as Chaplain to the Bristol [[St Michael's Hospital, Bristol | Maternity]] and [[Bristol Homeopathic Hospital|Homeopathic]] Hospitals. He also became part-time Chaplain to the [[University of Bristol]] in 1953 and was appointed full-time Chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the [https://www.bristolcathchap.org.uk/ University Catholic Chaplaincy] which continues to serve students today.<br />
<br />
In 1967 he was appointed as Parish Priest of [https://www.lourdes-wsm.co.uk/ Our Lady of Lourdes], [[Weston-Super-Mare]], until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Clifton on 25 April 1972. He succeeded [[Joseph Rudderham]] on 20 December 1974 to become the 8th Bishop of Clifton.<br />
<br />
==Posts==<br />
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the [[Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers | Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers]] (1973 to 1983), and Chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers (1973 to 1983), Vice-Chairman of the Liturgy Commission (1977 to 1983), and also Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council (1976 to 1983).<br />
<br />
In 1982 he was Chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of [[Pope John Paul II]] to England and Wales. He was Chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture from 1983 until 1999, as well as Episcopal Adviser to Marriage Encounter from 1980. He presided at a Diocesan Synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.<br />
<br />
From the early 1990s until 1999, Bishop Alexander was the Patron of the [[Catholic Association Pilgrimage]] Hospitalité.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/pilgrimage/caarchive.shtml|title=CA Past Officials|publisher=Catholic Association|date=17 April 2010|accessdate=13 September 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721104713/http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/pilgrimage/caarchive.shtml|archivedate=21 July 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
During 1996, Alexander organised a panel to review the [[Neocatechumenal Way]] and later <br />
banned the organisation within the Clifton Diocese.<br />
<br />
In February 2001 Bishop Alexander was recognised by the [[University of Bristol]] for his contribution to the life of the City and the University and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD). The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol, Right Reverend [[Barry Rogerson]].<br />
<br />
In 1985 he was decorated by Commander's Cross of [[Order of Polonia Restituta]] (polish government-in-exile).<ref>[http://eprints.hist.pl/379/1/1986-04-10_nr2.pdf ''Komunikat o nadaniu Orderu Odrodzenia Polski'', "Dziennik Ustaw Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej", Nr 2 z 10 kwietnia 1986, s. 31.]</ref><br />
<br />
==Retirement==<br />
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop [[Declan Lang]] on 28 March 2001. On retiring as Bishop of Clifton he served as Parish Priest of [[St Joseph's Church, Weston-super-Mare|St Joseph's]], [[Weston-super-Mare]]. Bishop Mervyn died on 14 August 2010 at St Angela's Home, Clifton, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-10979348|title=Former Bishop of Clifton Mervyn Alexander dies, aged 85|publisher=The BBC|date=15 August 2010|accessdate=1 May 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.cliftondiocese.com/mervyn-alexander Diocese of Clifton website]<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060622143125/http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Union/Cassoc/history_mervyndegree.html Biodata]<br />
*[http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/.../the_church_in_england_and_wales Catholic Church in England and Wales website]<br />
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{{s-rel|ca}}<br />
{{s-bef|before=[[Joseph Rudderham]]}}<br />
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Clifton]] |years=1974—2001}}<br />
{{s-aft|after=[[Declan Lang]]}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
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{{Diocese of Clifton}}<br />
{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Mervyn}}<br />
[[Category:1925 births]]<br />
[[Category:2010 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:English College, Rome alumni]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in England]]<br />
[[Category:People educated at Bishop Wordsworth's School]]<br />
[[Category:People associated with the University of Bristol]]<br />
[[Category:Clergy from Salisbury]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in England]]<br />
[[Category:Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta]]<br />
[[Category:British expatriates in Italy]]<br />
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Clifton]]<br />
[[Category:People educated at Prior Park College]]</div>imported>Sevenoaks27