The hidden priest
Subtitle: biography of Edward Charles Clifford of Chudleigh,1803-1843
By: Selva Appasawmy.
Publisher: S.K.N. Appasawmy]
Published: 2003
Place of publication: [Mauritius
Language: eng
Number of pages: 200
Subjects: Clifford, Edward Charles, -- 1803-1843; Catholic Church -- Mauritius -- Clergy -- Biography; Missionaries -- Mauritius -- Biography; Mauritius -- Church history -- 19th century
Genres: Biography.
Description: He came to Mauritius for the emancipation of the slaves after a short period of serving the Irish in Liverpool.
He refused segregation in his chapel...even before the abolition of slavery.
Was persecuted by the slaveowners...including his own Bishop...Monseigneur Collier.
Died under mysterious circumstances after 11 years of serving the slaves and ex-slaves with love.
His corpse was discovered three days after his death. At his funeral, no officials or slaveowners attended........but there was "a concourse" of ex-slaves who came to mourn his passing!!!!!
The book includes important correspondences between him and various Governors of Mauritius about his plight...and to his brother Lord Clifford who was extremely influential both in Rome and within the British Government.
Notes: The story of this English Catholic priest - who came from a noble family - the Clifford of Devon - whose great great great grandson - Lord Clifford still live in the family mansion of Ugbrooke park in Devon. Edward Charles Clifford father and brother...Both Lord Clifford...fought the the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act...and against the corn-law. One of his ancestor...mentioned in Shakespeares' Henry v1 -walked out of parliament in disgust!