James Cunningham

Who was James Cunningham?

James Cunningham was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle from 1958 to 1974.

Born in Manchester on 15 August 1910, he was ordained to the priesthood on 22 May 1937. He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and Titular Bishop of Ios on 19 August 1957. His consecration to the Episcopate took place on 2 November 1957, the principal consecrator was Archbishop John Carmel Heenan of Liverpool, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop George Andrew Beck of Salford and Bishop George Brunner of Middlesbrough. The following year, Cunningham was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle on 1 July 1958.

He died in office in Newcastle upon Tyne on 10 July 1974, aged 63, and was buried at Ushaw College cemetery.