THE JOURNAL OF

OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC STUDIES

Volume I
 Table of Contents

From the Editor .......................................................................................................................................... 3

Old Roman Catholicism in the Midwest ................................................................................................ 4

Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew and Modernism ......................................................................... 12

Biography: Archbishop Frederick Littler Pyman ................................................................................ 16

Remembering Archbishop Francis Peter Facione ............................................................................... 20

All original contents copyright the Journal of Old Roman Catholic Studies, 2020. All Rights Reserved.
This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the Journal
of Old Roman Catholic Studies.

Front Photo: Rev. Dr. Alastair Guinan, Archbishop Frederick Pyman, unknown priest.

2
 From the Editor

Dear Readers,

This new publication is an effort to preserve Old Roman

Catholic history while understanding the motives and
intentions of our forefathers. It is part of a long line of Old
Roman Catholic publications, including One Faith, The
Augustinian, One Church, New Perspectives, and countless others.

Those interested in the Old Roman Catholic tradition may

contribute to the publication provided the topic is serious, well-
researched, and cited properly. Responses to articles may also
be published, and both are at the discretion of the editor.

It is my sincere hope that this journal and the information herein will be preserved for future
generations of Old Roman Catholics, so others may be aware of our venerable history and the
traditions of our church.

Sincerely in Christ,

+William Myers
Editor

3
 Old Roman Catholicism in the Midwest1
By: Archbishop William Myers

The Carfora Years

Old Roman Catholicism found its start in the

middle of America in 1907, when Archbishop
Carmel Henry Carfora established the St. Rocco
Independent National Catholic Church. Archbishop
Carfora previously served in the Diocese of
Wheeling as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church
ministering to Italian immigrants. Carfora
continued here until 1916 when he left the parish.

The departure apparently was not amicable, and it

was noted “Father Carfora left for Chicago, taking
with him the church records, Eucharistic vestments,
candlesticks, etc. The mortgaged church building
remained the property of the Dollar Savings &
Trust Company of Youngstown. St. Rocco
Independent National Catholic Church ceased to
exist.”2 However, this came from a later pastor and
Archbishop Carfora
was not identified as first-hand knowledge. St.
Rocco’s was received into the Episcopal Church on June 15, 1918.

Carfora established the “North American Old Roman Catholic Diocese” in Chicago after his
consecration as bishop by the Prince de Landes Berghes in 1916. When Carfora became head of
the church after the Prince joined the Augustinians, he renamed it the “North American Old
Roman Catholic Church.” Carfora continued to reside in Chicago until his death in 1958, but
did not establish a diocese in the city, electing rather to use his role to serve the entire American
Church. Unfortunately, there is little information about many individual clerics during
Carfora’s leadership.

1 Included in this article are people or organizations utilizing the name Old Roman Catholic. Inclusion does not imply
recognition or uniformity of belief.
2 Cart, Sarah A. (2010) Closing Doors, Preserving Traditions, Opening Hearts. Church Life! Fall 2010.

https://www.dohio.org/EpiscopalDioceseOfOhio/media/EpiscopalDioceseOfOhioMedia/Church%20Life%20Mag
azine/CL_Fall_2010.pdf

4
 The Diocese of Westville

One of Carfora’s churches was Holy Cross in

Westville, Illinois. Holy Cross was a white frame
building originally built by the Presbyterians in 1870.
A group of break-away Roman Catholics purchased
it in 1914 after a disagreement with the Bishop of
Peoria about the pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul
Catholic Church.3 The church originally came under
Archbishop Joseph Renee Vilatte but left his
jurisdiction when Vilatte left for France to be
reconciled with Rome.4

Holy Cross then entered the jurisdiction of Bishop

Stanislaus B. Mickiewicz of the Independent
Lithuanian Catholic Church. Mickiewicz was a
member of the Polish National Catholic Church but
left them to start his own jurisdiction, later
reconciling with the PNCC again.5 Upon
Unknown priest, Bishop Vipartas, Fr. Norman Sieme Mickiewicz’s death in 1923, the church joined the
North American Old Roman Catholic Church under
Archbishop Carfora but was largely left alone.

After a succession of pastors, Father Zigmunt K. Vipartas was hired at Holy Cross. Vipartas was
ordained a priest by Orthodox Archbishop Solovej, a soap-maker in the city of Montevideo,
Uruguay in 1928.6 Vipartas was consecrated by Archbishop Carfora on August 15, 1944 for the
Lithuanian community and specifically the church of Holy Cross in Westville, Illinois. He was
given the title Bishop of Westville and Missionary Bishop of the Lithuanian Independent
Catholics. The church continued under various pastors until Fr. Zigmantis K. Vipartas became
pastor in 1933. He continued at Holy Cross until his death in 1961 when the church closed.

The North American Old Roman Catholic Church (Starkey)

The next episcopal activity occurred in 1958, when Bishop John Schweikert was consecrated by
Archbishop Richard Arthur Marchenna assisted by Bishop Vipartas. Bishop Schweikert listed

3 Flattery, J. (2014) A Short History of a Big Lithanian Row. Faulstich Printing Company.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.

5
other other people as his consecrators but this appears to be the most accurate.7 Bishop Vipartas
previously ordained Schweikert on June 4, 1955. Schweikert continued as Vicar General under
Archbishop Marchenna after his consecration, later departing from him and joining Archbishop
Cyrus Starkey of Connecticut.

Archbishop Starkey was appointed the successor of Archbishop

Carfora before Carfora’s death in 1958. However, this was
controversial because the Church’s Canon Law required the Primate
to be elected.8 Schweikert was then appointed on June 15, 1959 as
Bishop of the Western Province by Starkey, consisting of “Western
and Mid-Western States.”9 He succeeded Starkey in 1965 as
Archbishop of their branch of the North American Old Roman
Catholic Church.

In addition to his role as Archbishop of his branch of the North

American Old Roman Catholic Church, Schweikert was pastor of
Sacred Heart Church in Chicago. Sacred Heart was previously Archbishop John Emile Schweikert
known as New Jerusalem Catholic Church and was established by
Giuseppe Abbate. Abbate believed that he was God’s “Celestial Messenger” who was carrying
out God’s mission in the End-time. If “all people and religious leaders
regarded him as the Celestial Messenger and submitted to him…the
world would be saved from eternal damnation,” claimed Abbate.10
There is no evidence that Schweikert was a believer in the claims of
Abbate, and Abbate’s remaining flock submitted to Schweikert in 1963.

Schweikert continued as head of the jurisdiction until his death on June

2, 1988. Schweikert was succeeded by Archbishop Theodore Rematt.
Rematt had been ordained on May 28, 1982 by Mar Mikhael of
Edessa.11 He was consecrated by Archbishop Schweikert on June 22,
1987, assisted by Colin Guthrie and Paul von Lobkowitz.12 Rematt was
Archbishop Theodore (Ted)
Rematt a controversial figure because of his removal of the Sisters of Our Lady
Queen of Peace Society. Abbate established the Society and the Sisters

7 Lundberg, M. & Craig, J. (2018). Giuseppe Maria Abbate: The Italian-American Celestial Messenger. Uppsala
University. https://magnuslundbergblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/uppsala-studies-vol-7-lundberg-craig.pdf.
8 Trela, J. (1979). A History of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church. Savonarola Theological Seminary.
9 Act copy in possession of Archbishop Myers.
10 Lundberg, M. & Craig, J.
11 Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.
12 Ibid.

6
taught at a school in the basement of Sacred Heart Church.13 After a disagreement, Rematt
removed the Sisters from the premises and the case was litigated in court. Eventually it was
decided in favor of Rematt.14 In addition to Sacred Heart, there were parishes in Wheaton,
Illinois and East Chicago, Indiana. Rematt left Chicago in 2004 and Sacred Heart was closed. He
settled in Patton, Pennsylvania and established Ss. Lazarus, Martha, and Mary Old Roman
Catholic Church in the former St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church. Rematt did not act as the
primary consecrator to anyone during his lifetime. He died on January 27, 2016.15

The Old Roman Catholic Church English Rite and

the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America

In 1961, Robert Alfred Burns was consecrated by

Archbishop Robert Alfred Marchenna, assisted by
Archbishop Rodriguez-Fairfield, at the mandate of
Archbishop George Gerard Shelley. Burns was
allegedly a former Episcopal priest of the Diocese of
Ohio who was re-ordained by Archbishop Carfora
in April, 1938. Burns continued with Shelley and
Marchenna until August 25, 1962, when he joined
Archbishop Wilfred Barrington-Evans of the Old
Roman Catholic Church English Rite in the United
Kingdom.16 He continued under this name until his
death. Marchenna also later left Shelley and
established his own jurisdiction.

Burns ordained Andrew Gordon Johnston-Cantrell

Archbishop Robert Alfred Burns
on and consecrated him on October 6, 1973. Burns
died on November 1, 1974.17 Johnston-Cantrell eventually resigned his office and Archbishop
Francis Peter Facione was elected to succeed him on January 5, 1975. Cantrell ordained Facione
on July 14, 1974 and consecrated by him on November 30, 1974. Facione resided near Detroit,
Michigan and moved the church’s headquarters there upon his election. He also renamed the
church the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America and became the first bishop of the

13 Bezkorovainy, A. (2008). All Was Not Lost: Journey of a Russian Immigrant from Riga to Chicagoland. Authorhouse.
14 Hirsley, M. (1991). Eviction Try at Church is Unholy Mess. Chicago Tribune.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-07-11-9103180583-story.html
15 Most Rev. Theodore J. Rematt obituary. (2016). Tribune Democrat. https://obituaries.tribdem.com/obituary/most-

theodore-j-rematt-751916551.
16 Documents in possession of the author.

7
Diocese of Michigan and the Central States, in addition to being pastor of St. Mark Old Roman
Catholic Church in Detroit.

In 1989, Facione consecrated Bishop Raphael John Adams as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of
Michigan and the Central States (and Titular Bishop of Selsey) in Detroit, assisted by
Archbishops John Joseph Humphreys and Theodore Rematt. Adams served as auxiliary bishop
in Chicago and continued in this office until 2009 when he left the Old Roman Catholic Church
for the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. 18

In 1990, Facione moved the headquarters of the

church to Louisville, Kentucky and established St.
Mark Old Roman Catholic Church in the city.
Eventually, the parish purchased building of the
former St. Michael the Archangel Holy Catholic
Church Anglican Rite. St Mark’s closed in 2013
and Archbishop Facione died on June 14, 2019.

Also descending from Archbishop Burns was

Archbishop Robert Lane. Archbishop Lane was
The Author with Archbishop Facione ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop
Howard Fris on July 14, 1974 and consecrated by
Burns on September 15, 1974.19 At that time Lane was under Archbishop Howard Fris and was
his coadjutor with rite of succession. Lane later united with Marchenna on June 9, 1976, but left
on July 12, 1978. Archbishop Lane continued to utilize the name The
Old Roman Catholic Church English Rite and was lived in Chicago,
Illinois. Lane was also pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen Church on
Roscoe and Bosworth, then on Lincoln Avenue. Lane continued as
primate of the church until his death on August 30, 1999. He was
succeeded by Archbishop Floyd Kortenhof whom he consecrated on
May 25, 1991 assisted by Bishops Karl Barwin and Richard Kuolt.20
Kortenhof resides in Elmwood Park, Illinois. On September 14, 2019,
Archbishop Robert Lane
Archbishops Kortenhof, Lewins, and Myers established a partnership
for their independent but cooperating jurisdictions.

18 Russell, J. (November 30, 2017). Ecumenical Catholic Communion starts new Midwestern diocese to include parish
in Oshkosh. USA Today Network. https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/life/2017/11/30/ecumenical-catholic-
communion-starts-new-midwestern-diocese-include-parish-oshkosh/909624001/.
19 Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.
20 Information provided by Archbishop Kortenhof.

8
 The Old Catholic Church of America

The Old Catholic Church of America was founded by Archbishop

Francis Xavier Resch in 1925. Resch was ordained by Bishop Paul
Francis Cope on March 5, 1939 and subsequently left him, being
consecrated on December 8, 1940 by Archbishop Carfora. Cope and
Resch reconciled, and Resch became Cope’s auxiliary bishop on June
15, 1941. 21 During his tenure Resch also served many Episcopal
parishes in Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois. Resch died in 1976 and
was succeeded by Archbishop Walter Xavier Brown, whom he
consecrated on August 25, 1963. Brown had been ordained to the
priesthood by Archbishop Richard Marchenna on August 21, 1961. 22

Brown was extremely successful in Archbishop Brown

Archbishop James Bostwick
to form a confederation called the Holy Orthodox Synod of America.24
growing the social mission of the
jurisdiction, establishing Holy Family Retreat Home for women
as well as rehabilitation centers for Alcoholics. The church grew
in Illinois and Wisconsin, eventually comprising of St. Nicholas
Cathedral in Watertown, Wisconsin, Holy Angels parish in
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and others. Brown also infused the
jurisdiction with Eastern Orthodox influences, as it utilized the
name the Orthodox Catholic Church in America and used the
Longer Orthodox Catechism of St. Philaret.23 The name change
was primarily due to the jurisdiction entering into agreement
with the Orthodox Church of America, under Alfred Lankenau,

Brown retired on November 1, 1997 and was succeeded by Archbishop James Bostwick.
Bostwick was ordained by Brown on April 10, 1976 and functioned as pastor of the cathedral
until 1981 when he pastored Our Lady of Hope in DeForest, Wisconsin. Bostwick was
consecrated on December 19, 1992 by Brown.25 Bostwick continued as head of the church until
his death on March 8, 2009, eventually even expanding it to South America.

21 Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.

22 Ibid.
23 Wisconsin Secretary of State. Accessed August 18, 2020.
24
Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.
25 The Old Catholic Church of America. Accessed on August 18, 2020:

http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/occa/history_OCCA.htm.

9
 In addition to Bostwick, the jurisdiction counted Bishop Earl P.
Gasquoine as a member in Chicago and head of the Vicariate of
Illinois. Gasquoine was ordained to the priesthood on September 8,
1956 and consecrated in 1973 by Archbishop Brown. Gasquoine died
November 4, 2014.26

There are two claimants to the primacy of this jurisdiction.

Bishop Earl Patrick Gasquoine
Alphonsus Maria Ligouri.
Archbishop Sherman Mosley was ordained on June 28, 2003 and
consecrated on August 15, 2003. He was appointed coadjutor on
January 11, 2009 and enthroned as Bostwick’s successor on June 27,
2009 at Holy Angels Cathedral.27 He re-named the jurisdiction the
Traditional Roman Catholic Church and then the Society of Saint

Also claiming successorship of the jurisdiction is Archbishop David Persyn. Archbishop Perysn
was consecrated on August 9, 2014 by Archbishop Charles Walders of Wisconsin, who was
episcopal chaplain to Archbishop Bostwick. Walders was consecrated by Bishop Henry Pleau
on October 15, 2013. Pleau was consecrated by Archbishop Walter Xavier Brown on September
21, 1974.28 Persyn is resident in Louisiana. This group entered into communion with the now
defunct Western Orthodox Christian Church on November 10, 2014.29

Persyn’s group joined the Old Roman Catholic Communion under Archbishop Jerome Lloyd
and does business as the Old Roman Catholic Church of America. Lloyd, resident in Brighton,
U.K., was ordained by Bishop Dennis Beevers of the Old Catholic Church in Europe (date
unknown) and consecrated by Archbishop Boniface Grosvold of London, Ontario of the Old
Roman Catholic Church Latin Rite on May 5, 2012.30 He departed the Old Roman Catholic
Church Latin Rite on October 14, 2013 and utilized the name The Old Roman Catholic Church
in Europe. He later united with the Old Catholic Church of America, under Archbishop Perysn,
and became head of the Orthodox Old Roman Catholic Communion.

Members of this group resident in the Midwest are under Bishop Nioclás Kelly. Kelly was
originally ordained on September 29, 2007 by Archbishop James Wilkowski of the Evangelical

26 Bishop Earl Patrick Gasquoine. Find a Grave. Accessed on August 18, 2020 here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156191411/bishop-earl_patrick-gasquoine. Photo is from Fr. Jim Craig and
posted on this website.
27 Johnson, Annysa. (June 2009). Rite comes for the archbishop. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
http://archive.jsonline.com/news/religion/49348632.html/.
28
Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.
29 Synod of Bishops Meeting (November 10, 2014). Accessed on August 18, 2020 here: https://www.wocc-

us.org/2014-synod-of-bishops-meeting.
30 Metropolitan Jerome of Selsey. Accessed on August 18, 2020 here: https://brightonoratory.org/clergy/father-

jerome-osjv-2/.

10
Catholic Church. 31 He entered the Old Roman Catholic Church in America in 2013 and became
a member of the Missionary Fransciscans of Christ the King, founded by then Bishop Adams
and Father Myers. He later left the jurisdiction and entered Persyn’s group on July 27, 2017,
where he was consecrated by Archbishop Jerome Lloyd on October 14, 2018, assisted by
Archbishops Persyn and Walders. He resides in Chicago, Illinois and pastors St. Anne Old
Roman Catholic Mission.

Conclusion

Old Roman Catholicism has been well-entrenched in the Midwest, most of which can be
attributed to Archbishop Carfora’s presence in Chicago. Sadly, the all the buildings have closed
and many of the communities dissipated since Carfora’s time and shortly thereafter. However,
Old Roman Catholics hold out hope for a new generation.

31 House Resolution 0736. Illinois House of Representatives. Accessed on August 18, 2020 here:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=HR&DocNum=736
&GAID=9&LegID=34270&SpecSess=&Session=

11
 Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew and Modernism
By: Archbishop William Myers

Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew (7 August

1852 – 19 December 1919) is regarded as the
father of Old Roman Catholicism and the source
of many who claim Old Catholic orders. He is a
unique figure, because even prior to his Old
Catholic affiliations he was constantly pulled
between ecclesiastical entities. Even as a child he
was baptized in both the Roman Catholic and
Anglican Churches. He studied for ministry in
the Scottish Episcopal Church but was
subsequently ordained in the Roman Catholic
Church.32 He later left the Roman Catholic
Church, had a crisis of faith (Anson says he was
a Unitarian), and later functioned in an Anglican
Church.33

In 1892, Mathew returned to the Roman Catholic

Church as a layman but still functioned in the
Anglican Church without a license.34 In 1897 he
had a chance meeting with Father Richard
O'Halloran, a subsequently suspended Roman
Catholic priest. It was O'Halloran who
introduced Mathew to the Old Catholic
Churches. It was here that he found a home
formally in 1908 and was consecrated as a bishop that same year.

Mathew separated from the Old Catholics in 1910, just 7 days before consecrating 4 new
bishops and 6 months after consecrating 2 bishops in violation of the Agreement of Utrecht. He
alleged that the Old Catholic Churches were abandoning the faith and issued a Declaration of
Autonomy and Independence. In this work, Mathew concluded that the Old Catholic Churches

32 1.Hill, C. (January 2004). Episcopal Lineage: a theological reflection on Blake v Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Ecclesiastical Law Journal. Cambridge University Press. 7. (34), 334–338. DOI:10.1017/S0956618X00005421. ISSN 0956-
618X.
33 Anson, P. (1964). Bishops at Large. October House.
34 King's bench division. (April 15, 1913) The Times (40186). London. 3–4. ISSN 0140-0460.

12
had given up daily Mass, mentioning the Pope in the liturgy, invocation of the saints, auricular
confession, and other innovations. Mathew renamed his church the "Old Roman Catholic
Church" and sought unity with the Orthodox six months after leaving the Old Catholics
(August 1911).

What is evident from this information is that Mathew believed in traditional Dutch Old Roman
Catholicism, which shared some beliefs in common with Modernism. Mathew also rejected
innovations introduced under the papacy of Pope Bl. Pius IX as dogma. This would have been
Catholicism as it existed before 1854 and as it synchronized with Eastern Orthodoxy. He joined
Old Catholicism after its eschewal of the beliefs of Papal Infallibility and the Immaculate
Conception. These beliefs were made dogma in 1854 and 1870 (and were rejected by Dutch
Bishops), whereas Mathew did not leave the Roman Catholic priesthood until 1889.35

A greater question remains about his sympathy towards Modernism. Modernism is defined
here by Abbate Cavallanti: "Modernism is modern in a false sense of the word; it is a morbid
state of conscience among Catholics, and especially young Catholics, that professes manifold
ideals, opinions, and tendencies. From time to time these tendencies work out into systems, that
are to renew the basis and superstructure of society, politics, philosophy, theology, of the
Church herself and of the Christian religion"36 This definition is as loose as the definition of
Jansenism, as it encompasses so many different things. This is complicated by the realization
that modernism looks different to each person defining it. Pope Saint Pius X stated that
Modernism "encompasses all heresies."

For traditional Roman Catholics, Modernism has continued to be the greatest evil to plague the
church. The effects of Modernism (may) include a vernacular liturgy, Vatican II, promotion of a
married priesthood, redefining of Catholic dogma, religious syncretism, and other views
consisted inconsistent with historic Catholicism. Some aspects of modernism existed within Old
Catholicism before Mathew’s joining—a married priesthood, vernacular liturgy, etc. Yet
because both camps share these views does not mean Ultrajectines can be equated as
modernists, at least during Mathew’s time.

Yet, there is the reality that Mathew held close acquaintances with known Modernists. First,
Mathew was known to be an acquaintance of Hyacinthe Loyson around 1889.37 Loyson was a
Roman Catholic priest, Provincial of the Discalced Carmelites, and subsequently
excommunicated in 1869. He had spoken positively of Judaism, Protestantism, and Catholicism
as the religions of civilized people. Loyson joined the Old Catholics in 1873 and established the
35
Adams, R. (2003). The Last Word: Revisionism. New Perspectives. Vol. 4, 1.
36 Vermeersch, A. (1911). Modernism. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10415a.htm.
37 Augé, C., ed. (1898). Loyson, Charles. Nouveau Larousse illustré (in French). 5, 777. Éditions Larousse.

https://archive.org/stream/nouveaularoussei05laro#page/776/mode/2up

13
Gallican Church. Thus, by the time he met and befriended Mathew he was well known
internationally as a proponent of Modernism.

Loyson was not the only Modernist known by Mathew. Mathew was well acquainted with
George Tyrrell, an Irish Jesuit excommunicated for Modernism in 1907 for writing critical essays
of Pope St. Pius X's Pascendi dominici gregis on Modernism. Mathew and Tyrrell were in frequent
correspondence and both collaborated on Dr. H. C. Lea's History of Sacerdotal Celibacy in the
Christian Church, published in 1907. It was on Tyrrell's suggestion that Mathew again
approached the Church of England about preferment just prior to his correspondence with the
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland (that country's Old Catholic body) in 1907. Tyrrell
congratulated Mathew on his consecration in 1908 and they continued correspondence until
roughly Tyrrell's death in 1909.

At Tyrell's death Mathew celebrated a low Requiem Mass for him as he had been forbidden an
ecclesiastical funeral. Mathew remarked: "I have no hesitation in declaring to you from what I
knew of him that he was an ardent and true Christian, and a sincere and faithful Catholic... He
had a greater range of spiritual vision, and the supernatural loomed larger in his eyes than in
those of the majority of his brethren. Who among them was his intellectual equal, or possessed
an intelligence approaching his in subtlety and grace?"38

Mathew was also friendly with known Modernists and held Tyrell in high esteem. Mathew was
undoubtably a complex figure who vacillated between ecclesiastical entities seeking to find a
true home. This seeking continued during his time as an Old Roman Catholic, when he used
various names to describe the Church (i.e. Western Orthodox, Old Roman Catholic, Ancient
Catholic, Western Catholic, etc.). He also sought again, during this time, unity with the Church
of England and Rome (as a layman). While detractors will point to this as a sign of wavering,
promoters may see it as an indication that Mathew continued to find where he truly "fit." It may
have also been a reaction to the majority of his jurisdiction leaving to join the Liberal Catholic
Church. His seeking unity with Caterbury and Rome was likely a desperate outreach after
having been deserted by all his friends and numerous schisms.

Mathew's legacy also shows that he was unquestionably a gifted researcher and writer, and that
he wrestled with the complexities of his faith. This is also evident by his numerous translated
and composed works. But, as shown with the company he kept and those who influenced him,
Mathew also moved in ecumenical circles and vacillated frequently. Even at his death he was
buried in an Anglican cemetery, an action made out of the kindness of the rector and indicative
of the struggles Mathew endured.

38 The Late Father Tyrrell. (August 12, 1909). 8. The Manchester Guardian. Manchester.

14
A question remains as to his rationale for separating from the Old Catholics. Some point to his
consecration of new bishops as the ultimate catalyst, while others note his concerns with their
doctrinal changes. It is true that the Church of Utrecht now looks very different than it did in
1908. This author believes his departure was both because of a desire for greater independence
as well as concerns at the path of the Old Catholic Churches. Moss notes that Mathew was
disturbed at some of the ideas out of the Old Catholic Congress of Vienna in 1909, although he
did co-consecrate with Gul for the Mariavites later that year. 39

Mathew was a complex character who continues to be studied even 100 years after his death.
Those in the Old Catholic Movement are grateful for his passing on his lineage as well as his
vision of a non-papal Catholicism. It is clear that Mathew was not an Ultramontanist and that
he had a deep commitment to Ultrajectine Catholicism. His impact continues to be felt world-
wide.

39 Moss, C. (2005). The Old Catholic Movement: its origins and history. Apocryphile Press.

15
 Biography: Archbishop Frederick Littler Pyman
By: Archbishop William Myers

Federick Littler Pyman was born on August 23, 1901 in

Liverpool, England. His parents, John and Clara Reed
Pyman, were active in the London theatre scene. He
attended grammar school at Kilburn and Wilesden and
obtained a background in electrical engineering at the
Regent Street Polytechnic. From here he entered the Royal
Flying Corps during World War I. He was officially called
an “engineering officer” but was, in reality, an intelligence
officer.

He migrated to the United States just before the Depression

of 1929, only to see his part of the family shipping fortune
squandered by a wastrel called Wall Street. In 1936, he
married Louise M. Jagelski and eventually they had three
children together. Pyman continued his studies in the
United States and received a Doctorate in Education from
the former Milton University in Baltimore in 1942.

He initially sought out ordination in the Protestant

Episcopal Church, as he had been baptized in the Church of
England. However, he also attended Lutheran churches earlier in life and decided to seek
ministry in that tradition. He studied for ordination through the Pacific Conference of the
English Lutheran Conference and was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church for St.
John's Community Church in Culver City, California in March, 1935. While serving in this
church, he wished to affiliate with other high-church
Lutherans. To that end, he joined the Protestant Orthodox
Western Church in America under Bishop Wilhelm
Waterstraat. Waterstraat resigned in 1940, and Pyman
was elected his successor and sought out apostolic
succession.

He was ordained by Bishop Albert Dunstan Bell of the

Old Catholic Church on January 30, 1942. He was
consecrated bishop on April 15, 1942. After his Bishop Pyman conducting the funeral of Carole
Landis
consecration, Pyman sought “recognition of orders and

16
establishment” from Archbishop Carmel Henry Carfora. After completing coursework at St.
Francis Seminary in Chicago, Carfora re-ordained Pyman to the major orders on August 14th
and 15th, 1943. He then went back to the West Coast and established several mission parishes in
southern California. Among them were included St. James in Santa Monica and St. Michael's in
Bell Gardens.

At some point after his consecration by Carfora, Pyman changed the name of the Church to the
Evangelical Orthodox Church in America. One reason was that the name “North American Old
Roman Catholic Church” had already been registered in California and was unavailable. He
also relinquished his independence and requested submission to the North American Old
Roman Catholic Church. While holding the Catholic faith and seven sacraments, his submission
was conditional on maintaining the Augsburg Confession and the Leipzig Statement.40 Carfora
accepted his request and, in addition to his role as Regionary Bishop of the Evangelical
Orthodox Church in America, he was appointed the Bishop of the Western Regionary Diocese
for the North American Old Roman Catholic Church on October 22, 1945. He later changed the
church’s name to the Evangelical Orthodox (Catholic) Church in America (Non-Papal Catholic)
while continuing as Bishop of the Western Regionary Diocese.

In 1965, Pyman founded the Society of Augustinian Restorationists to observe the “Precepts of
Christian Catholic Practices.” Eventually they became an integral part of the Western Regionary
Diocese and staffed the Dioceses’ parishes. In 1974, Pyman relinquished the leadership of the
Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America to Archbishop Perry Ronald Sills, and
continued in his role as head of the Western Regionary Diocese and Superior of the Society of
Augustinian Restorationists. He also founded the Universal Episcopal Church in America for
Episcopalians seeking a home.

Pyman was widely beloved and often ministered

outside the margins. He was the chaplain of the
Show Folks of America and gained notoriety in in
1948 when he buried the actress Carole Landis after
her suicide.41 His clergy also included those who
gained some notoriety. Among them was the
Reverend Dr. Alastair Guinan, translator of “This is
the Mass” by Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He

also consecrated Bishop Lawrence Shaver on July 8, Pyman and Other Bishops
1972. Shaver later joined the Anglican Rite

40Document in possession of the author.

41Information available here (accessed August 18, 2020): https://carolelandisofficial.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-
funeral.html. Photo of Bishop Pyman at funeral is from this source.

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Jurisdiction of the Americas, a Continuing Anglican group founded in 1980. The church
eventually merged with the Anglican Episcopal Church in North America and later became the
Anglican Province of America in 1998. He retired as the Bishop of Mid America in 2015.

Bishop Pyman was a prime mover in Old Catholic Movement for unity in America and was a
founding member of the Council of Independent Catholic Bishops in 1982. He served two terms
as Chairman of the Council. Under his leadership, the Council made significant progress
toward establishing a unity of purpose between the several canonical, yet autonomous, Old
Catholic church bodies in the United States. To further this unity, in 1990 the Convocation of the
Western Regionary Diocese in 1990 elected Archbishop Francis P. Facione, Presiding Bishop of
the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America, as Bishop Coadjutor to assist Bishop Pyman
in his duties.

Pyman died on January 22, 1993 at his residence in Los Gatos, California of a heart attack. He
was 91 years old.

Apostolic Succession of Archbishop Pyman

There is uncertain documentation about the consecration of Archbishop Pyman. What is

repeated here is unverifiable and the sources of claims are unverified. Please use caution when
referring to this as a source.

Source of Orders Ordained Consecrated

Albert Dunstan Bell42 January 30, 1942 January 30, 1942

Carmel Henry Carfora43 August 14, 1943 August 15, 1942

Lowell Paul Wadle44 July 21, 1947

Assisted by Matthew Nicholas Nelson (Sub-conditione)

and Wallace David de Ortega Maxey

Dennis Lucey45 January 12, 1969

(Sub-conditione)

42 From the archives of the author.

43 From the archives of the author.
44 Ward, G. (1990) Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Omnigraphics.
45 Ibid.

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 Archbishop Frederick Pyman consecrated:46

Individual Consecration Date

John L. Schaffer June 09, 1972

Larry Lee Shaver July 08, 1972

Walter Hollis Adams June 15, 1973

Assisted by Larry Lee Shaver

Perry Ronald Sills June 29, 1974

Assisted by Larry Lee Shaver and William Elliot Littlewood

46 https://sites.google.com/site/gnostickos/bbishopspyman

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 Remembering Archbishop Francis Peter Facione
By: Archbishop William Myers

Archbishop Francis Facione was born February 8,

1940, in Detroit, Michigan to Frank Facione and
Catherine (D'Agostino) Facione. After graduating
from Saint Gregory the Great High School, Facione
studied pharmacy at Wayne State University and
earned a BS in Pharmacy in 1962. He practiced
pharmacy and later entered academia, obtaining a
MS in Pharmacy Administration in 1974 and a Ph.D.
in Pharmacy Administration in 1982. In academia he
was on the faculty of Wayne State University in
Detroit.

Facione had always been called to priestly ministry

and studied at Sacred Heart Seminary before entering
Wayne State. He gave up hope of ordination until
finding the Old Roman Catholic Church. He
encountered Archbishop Robert Alfred Burns in the 1970s and communicated with him, even
visiting him in Chicago. He studied at St. Willibrord Seminary under Archbishop Burns and
was eventually ordained a priest on July 14, 1974, by Bishop Andrew Gordon Johnston-Cantrell.

Archbishop Johnston-Cantrell was resident in Toronto, Canada

and a bishop under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Burns. Facione
became Vicar General of the church and was later elected a bishop
and consecrated by Archbishop Johnson-Cantrell on November 30,
1974. He took the title of Bishop of Michigan and the Central States.
He was elected on January 5, 1975 as Presiding Bishop and
renamed the church the Old Roman Catholic Church in North
America-Ultrajectine Tradition. He then took the title Titular
Archbishop of Devon. While in Detroit he pastored St. Mark’s Old
Roman Catholic Church (which met at All Saints Episcopal Church
on 7 Mile Lane) and Father Donald Currie assisted him as
Associate Pastor.

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In 1991, the church moved to Louisville,
Kentucky. Saint Mark’s moved with
Archbishop Facione and mass was said at the
Holiday Inn on Dixie Highway. Later, the
church shared space with Saint Michael the
Archangel Anglican Church (Holy Catholic
Church Anglican Rite). Eventually the
building was acquired around 1998, and the
parish met until its sale in 2013. Archbishop
Facione during this time continued his work
in ministry and later joined the faculty of
Sullivan University as Assistant Dean for Saint Mark's Old Roman Catholic Church
the College of Pharmacy in 2007. He later
served as Director of Student Support Services and entered retirement in 2018. He died of
cancer on June 14, 2019 in the 45th year of his episcopacy.

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