Bernard Griffin

Bernard William Griffin (21 February 1899 – 19 August 1956) was an English cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1943 until his death, and was created a cardinal in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. As cardinal, Griffin argued for the provision of Catholic schools in the rebuilding of post-war Britain and acted as papal legate to the 1950 centenary of the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England.

Biography Bernard and his twin brother Basil were born in Birmingham to William and Helen (née Swadkins) Griffin. His father was a bicycle manufacturer, Birmingham City councillor and justice of the peace.

When the First World War broke out, Griffin left the seminary to serve in the photographic section of the Royal Naval Air Service. While in the service he suffered his first heart attack, before the age of twenty, but concealed it from the medical authorities, fearing a discharge that would prevent his acceptance for the priesthood; the episode became public only after his death.

After the war Bernard went to Oscott College in Birmingham to train to be a priest. Ordained to the priesthood on 1 November 1924, he finished his studies at the Venerable English College in Rome in 1927. Griffin then worked as private secretary to John McIntyre, the Archbishop of Birmingham, until 1937. From 1929 to 1938, he served as diocesan chancellor of Birmingham, director of studies of the Catholic Evidence Guild, Catholic representative on the BBC's religious advisory committee, and administrator of diocesan charitable homes.

On 26 May 1938, Griffin was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Titular Bishop of Appia. He received his episcopal consecration on 30 June from Thomas Williams (Archbishop of Birmingham), with John Barrett, Bishop of Plymouth, and William Lee (Bishop of Clifton), serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of Saint Chad, Birmingham. At his installation Mass in Westminster Cathedral, he defended the sanctity of marriage.

Griffin was created Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio Magno al Celio by Pius XII in the consistory of 18 February 1946. and was once a president on the Council of Christians and Jews.

Griffin died from a heart attack in New Polzeath, at age 57, In his history of Cardinal Hume and modern English Catholicism, Peter Stanford described Griffin as "an obscure but talented provincial auxiliary".