Migration Stories: Bishop Edward Dicconson: from Wrightington to Appley Bridge via Normandy
Posted on 23rd Oct 2025 by AWL Team
Edward Dicconson lived a life of migration, moving both from and to the Wigan area. Born 30th November 1670 in Wrightington Hall, aged 14, he left for studies in Douay, Normandy. Douay was an English college where Roman Catholics could gain an education in their faith as it was outlawed in England.
Having completed his studies, he became schoolmaster at Douay and taught his nephew, also Edward, and two of Ralph Standish’s sons at the college. In March 1720 he sheltered Ralph Standish who was fleeing from ‘threat of death’ after standing with his cousin Derwentwater at the battle of Preston in 1715. Ralph took the older of his sons with him in 11th March.
Later in the year he briefly returned to England on a business venture with his brother Hugh but still wanted to offer the church more. He Switched Douay for a post as a Chaplain to the Giffards in Staffordshire and narrowly missed out on the role of Bishop Apostolic of London in 1721. He suffered with a lifelong speech impediment which impeded his chances of progression in spheres which put an emphasis on preaching.
He took numerous posts as an envoy to Paris, handled business of Douay College and continued to show his wisdom and ‘singular merit’. By 1740 at the age of 70 he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. He also was ordained in 1741 as the titular Bishop of Mallus in modern day Turkey, a post with symbolic weight through Ghent Cathedral.
Initially, his post took him around the district covering Northern England. Later he was often too frail to travel the great distances demanded and after 1750 relied on Francis Petrel to act as coadjutor. He based himself at Finch Mill, Appley Bridge, a property owned by his family.
On his death in 1752 he was buried near the altar of St Wilfred’s Church next to the Standish Family Chapel at the expense of Ralph Standish, his friend and neighbour. His inscription reads:
“Here Lies Edward Dickson of Finch Mill,
bishop of Mallus,
died near here,
on the 24th day of April
AD
1752, aged 82.
May he rest in peace.”
Edward played a key part in the lives of Catholics both sides of the channel in a life marked by movement for his faith. Though, like many, he died close to his place of birth, the path between the two crossed across Europe, encountered two Jacobite risings and involved being a teacher, businessman and priest.
By Cameron Fleming