Bradley, Denis Mary
BRADLEY, DENIS MARY
Bishop; b. County Kerry, Ireland, Feb. 25, 1846; d. Manchester, N.H., Dec. 13, 1903. His mother brought the family to Manchester after the father's death in Ireland. Denis was taught by Thomas Cochran, a pioneer Catholic educator, and in 1864 entered Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. He subsequently attended Georgetown College (now University), Washington, D.C., and St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N.Y. After ordination on July 3, 1871, he was appointed curate at the cathedral in Portland, Maine, and he later became chancellor of the diocese and rector of the cathedral. His interest in the temperance movement gained him support from the non-Catholics of Portland. In 1884, after serving as pastor of St. Joseph's church in Manchester, he was appointed to the new Diocese of Manchester and consecrated by Abp. John J. Williams of Boston, Mass. Bradley helped to revitalize Catholicism in New Hampshire. In addition to administering his diocese and sponsoring a building program, he dealt successfully with problems created by nativism and labor dissatisfaction. He also helped to promote the growth of Catholic schools in the state.
Bibliography: m. h. down, Life of Denis M. Bradley (Manchester, N.H. 1905).
[j. l. morrison]