Table of Apostolic Succession

by Principal Consecrator
for the Most Reverend Archbishop James Bostwick

It may be well to state here so that no misunderstanding may arise an ecclesiastical law. The question: “What effect is produced in the ‘Status quo’ of an Archbishop when suspended?” The answer: “When an Archbishop, Bishop, or other ranking officer of the church has been suspended, the validity of his consecration is in no way affected. Once a Bishop, no power on earth can invalidate that act. Furthermore, any consecrations which that Bishop may perform in the future, as long as such consecrations are performed with Material, Form and Ritual of the Church, are valid and binding.” The Roman Catholic Church calls such consecrations, ordinations and confirmations, which the suspended Bishop may perform, “illicit”, but the Roman Catholic Church has never denied their validity. Many times, however, she has authoritively admitted that the Bishops of the “Old Catholic Church of America” are validly consecrated Bishops, with all the power and authority which such validity invests in them.

Since the history of the “Old Catholic Church of America” and the “Roman Catholic Church” are identical up to the year 1702, it is unnecessary to give the Apostolic Succession before that date. Therefore, it is only necessary to give the Apostolic Succession from that year.

In 1669, Peter Codde was consecrated Vicar General with the title of Bishop of Sebaste in Partibus. In 1710, Bishop Peter Codde died.

In 1702, Theodore Kock was appointed to replace Bishop Peter Codde.

In 1723, the Chapter of Utrecht, in order to preserve the canonical succession of the Dutch clergy, elected Cornelius Stunoven as Archbishop. Dominique Varlet, Bishop of Bablyon in Partibus, consecrated him October 15, 1723.

Upon the death of Bishop Stunoven, no successor having been named, the Chapter of Utrecht elected Cornelius Jan Burchman as its primate. Bishop Dominique Varlet consecrated Jan Burchman on September 30th, 1725.

From the year 1725 to year 1892, the names and dates on record in the Vatican are as follows:

Peter Jan Meindaerts A.D.1739; Jan van Stipout, A.D. 1745; Walter Michael van Nieuwenhuizen, A.D.1768; Adrian Brockman, A.D. 1778; Jan James van Rhizn, A.D. 1797; Gilbert de Jong, A.D. 1805; Willibrord van Oss, A.D. 1814; John Bon, A.D. 1819; John van Santen, A.D. 1825; Herman Heykamp, A.D. 1854; Gaspard John Rinkel, A.D. 1873; Gerald Gull, A.D.1892.

On May 11th 1892 Gerald Gull (or Gul) was consecrated Archbishop of Utrecht, Holland May 11th 1892. On April 28 1908 Archbishop Gull consecrated Arnold Harris Mathew as Regionary Bishop of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1908 the “Old Catholic Church of America” was established in Great Britain. In 1911, Bishop Mathew was elected Archbishop.

On June 29th, 1912, Archbishop Mathew consecrated Prince de Landas Berghes et de Rache. In 1916 Bishop Prince de Landas Berghes et de Rache was elected Archbishop of North America. Archbishop Mathew also consecrated Bernard Mary Williams on April 14, 1914, who in November 4, 1920, was elected Archbishop of England, and James MacFall, consecrated July 21st 1916 as Bishop of Ireland.

On October 4th, 1916, Archbishop Prince de Landas-Berghes et de Rache consecrated Carmel Henry Carfora as his Perpetual Co-adjutor and Regionary Bishop. Bishop Rene Vilatte also consecrated Carmel Henry Carfora however, no historical records can be found.

On October 12, 1919, Bishop Carfora was elected Archbishop of United States and Canada. On March 19, 1923 Archbishop Carfora was made Primate of the “Old Catholic Church of America.”

Archbishop Carfora ordained the Rev. Francis X. Resch to the holy priesthood on August 15, 1933, and consecrated him to the episcopacy on December 8, 1940. Bishop Resch was later elected Archbishop. Archbishop Carfora died in 1958.

Upon his retirement Archbishop Resch consecrated Rev. Walter X. Brown to the episcopacy with the right of secession as Archbishop on August 25, 1963, in St. Francis Church, Kankakee, Illinois. Bishop Resch died in 1976.

Archbishop Brown consecrated Rev. James Edward Bostwick as Auxiliary Bishop with right of succession on September 19, 1992, in St. Nicholas Cathedral, Watertown, Wisconsin. Bishop Bostwick assumed the leadership of the Old Catholic Church of America upon Archbishop Brown's retirement effective November 1, 1997. Bishop Bostwick was installed as Archbishop Metropolitan at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Angels in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on November 1, 1997.

Archbishop Brown died on July 23, 1998.

As you see by the information presented the Old Catholic Church of America received its apostolic succession and valid orders from Christ and the Apostles.