Bernard Orchard

John Archibald Henslowe Orchard, the son of a farmer, was born in Bromley, Kent. He was educated at Ealing Priory School (to which he would in later life return as headmaster), and on leaving in 1927 became its first pupil since foundation in 1902 to go to university, winning a place at Fitzwilliam House, in the University of Cambridge, where he read History and Economics. At Ealing Priory he shared classes with Reginald C. Fuller with whom he would in later life collaborate on scholarly projects.

After graduating, Orchard taught initially at a preparatory school before in 1932 taking the monastic habit at Downside Abbey, adopting the name Bernard; he was subsequently ordained as a priest in 1939. At Downside he both taught at the school, served as choirmaster and began his career as a biblical scholar under the tutelage of Abbots John Chapman and Christopher Butler. From 1943 he took advantage of the influence of Divino afflante Spiritu, the encyclical of Pope Pius XII, to embark upon A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, eventually published in 1951.

After 13 years at Downside, then-Abbot Sigebert Trafford instructed Orchard to take on the headship of Ealing Priory School. Established in 1902 as a dependency of Downside, by 1945 it was in a state in which closure rather than further development seemed more likely. Notwithstanding, Orchard threw himself into the task of revitalising the school, which he renamed St Benedict's School, and by 1947 succeeded in obtaining recognition by the Ministry of Education as efficient (thus enabling it to participate in the teachers' pension scheme). {{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}

In 1951 Orchard was admitted to the Headmasters' Conference, giving St Benedict's the status of a public school, the only Catholic day school to achieve this position. By 1959, Abbot Rupert Hall of the by-then independent Ealing Abbey, was concerned that Orchard's ambitions for the school exceeded the financial capability of the monastic community, and requested that Orchard resign his position as headmaster in 1960. Orchard's successor died after just one term and the monk then appointed in his stead resigned after five years. This resulted in Orchard being called upon in 1965 to resume the post. He held until a further dispute over his ambitions for expansion led in 1969 to his resignation a second time. {{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}

After completing his biblical commentary in 1951, and in addition to his headmaster's duties, Orchard embarked with Reginald C. Fuller, his erstwhile fellow Ealing Priory pupil, on producing a new translation of the Bible, suitable for both liturgical and academic use, which was published in 1967. Aged 60, free from stewardship of the school, Orchard resumed his career as a biblical scholar in earnest. He participated in the establishment in 1969 and was the second General Secretary (1970–1972) of the World Catholic Federation and, displaying the same vigour evident in his revival of St Benedict's School, organised and financed a series of international conferences on the Gospels. During the 1970s he spent four years as spiritual director of the Beda College in Rome and took up the position of visiting professor of New Testament Studies at the University of Dallas (in Dallas, Texas) before returning to Ealing for the remainder of his life. {{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

Following in the footsteps of his mentor Christopher Butler, Orchard promoted, in the face of general scholarly scepticism, the Griesbach hypothesis, which he renamed the Two-Gospel Hypothesis. This maintained that the Gospel of Matthew was the first and the Gospel of Mark the third, being a synthesis of Matthew's Gospel and the Gospel of Luke. Into his old age he remained a familiar face in biblical circles, lecturing worldwide in support of his hypothesis. Aged 95, he publicly declined the invitation of Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster to attend a lecture which would support the priority of Mark's Gospel. Orchard's researches and ideas, regarding the Gospels, have been saved on www.churchinhistory.org{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1536281/Dom-Bernard-Orchard.html|title=Dom Bernard Orchard|access-date=30 May 2008|date=8 December 2006|work=The Telegraph}}

After leading the chant at midday on 28 November 2006, Orchard, aged 96, prayed at the bedside of the dying Dom Kevin Horsey. They were the last survivors of the Ealing community before it became independent in 1947. They died within hours of each other that night.

• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |title=Matthew, Luke & Mark |series=Griesbach solution to the synoptic question |volume=1 |location=Manchester |publisher=Koinonia Press |date=1976 |isbn=9780860880097 |oclc=3562922 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Synopsis of the Four Gospels in English |date=1982 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Synopsis of the Four Gospels in Greek |location=Edinburgh |publisher=T. & T. Clark |date=1983 |isbn=9780567093318 |oclc=9707458 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Riley |author2-first=Harold |author2-link=Harold Riley (academic) |title=The Order of the Synoptics: why three synoptic gospels?|location=Macon, GA |publisher=Mercer University Press |date=1987 |isbn=9780865542228 |oclc=15283083 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Evolution of the Gospels |series=CTS SC60 |location=London |publisher=Incorporated Catholic Truth Society|date=1990 |isbn=9780851837994 |oclc=59825652 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Born to be King - The Epic of the Incarnation (A theological application of the Matthean Priority Hypothesis |location=London |publisher=Ealing Abbey Scriptorium |date=1993 |isbn=9780952210412 |oclc=29594819 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Origin and Evolution of the Gospels |location=London |publisher=Ealing Abbey Scriptorium |date=1993 |isbn=9780952210429 |oclc=315971139 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.churchinhistory.org/pages/orchard/oeg.pdf |title=The Origin and Evolution of the Gospels |access-date=15 November 2018 }} - originally The evolution of the Gospels (1990)

• {{cite book|editor1-last=Orchard |editor1-first=Bernard |editor1-mask=3 |title=A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture |location=New York |publisher=Thomas Nelson and Sons |date=1951 |oclc=2657334 }}
• {{cite book|editor1-last=Orchard |editor1-first=Bernard |editor1-mask=3 |editor2-last=Fuller |editor2-first=Reginald C. |editor2-link=Reginald C. Fuller |title=The Holy Bible: containing the Old and New Testaments, Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition |location=Toronto |publisher=Thomas Nelson & Sons |date=1966 |oclc=6699526 }}
• {{cite book|editor1-last=Orchard |editor1-first=Bernard |editor1-mask=3 |editor2-last=Fuller |editor2-first=Reginald C. |editor2-link=Reginald C. Fuller |title=The Common Bible |location=London |date=1973 }}
• {{cite book|editor1-last=Orchard |editor1-first=Bernard |editor1-mask=3 |title=A New Catholic Commentary |location=London |publisher=Nelson |date=1969 |oclc=668362759 }}

{{lacking ISBN|section|date=March 2014}}

• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Ellipsis and Parenthesis in Gal 2:1-10 and 2 Thess 2:1-12 |editor1-last=Benelli |editor1-first=G. |editor1-link=G. Benelli |editor2-last=De Lorenzi |editor2-first=Lorenzo |editor2-link=Lorenzo De Lorenzi |title=Paul de Tarse - Apotre de Notre Temps |location=Rome |publisher=Abbaye de S. Paul |date=1979 |oclc=614071210 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Some Guidelines for the Interpretation of Eusebius's Hist. Eccl. 3.34-39 |editor1-last=Weinrich |editor1-first=William C. |editor1-link=William C. Weinrich |title=New Testament Age: essays in honor of Bo Reiche |volume=II |location=Basle |date=1979 |oclc=844929012 |pages=393–403 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Response to H. Merkel (Ancient Patristic Testimony to the Gospels |editor1-last=Dungan |editor1-first=David L. |editor1-link=David L. Dungan |editor2-last=Boismard |editor2-first=M. E. |editor2-link=M. E. Boismard |editor3-last=Farmer |editor3-first=William Reuben |editor3-link=William Reuben Farmer |editor4-last=Neirynck |editor4-first=Frans |editor4-link=Frans Neirynck |title=The Interrelations of the Gospels |series=Bibliotheca Ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensium |volume=95 |location=Leuven |publisher=Leuven University Press |date=1990 |oclc=638658231 |pages=591–604 }}
• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Mark and the Fusion of Traditions

|editor1-last=Neirynck |editor1-first=Frans |editor1-link=Frans Neirynck |editor2-last=van Segbroeck |editor2-first=Frans |editor2-link=Frans van Segbroeck |title=The Four Gospels - Festschrift Frans Neirynck |volume=3 |location=Leuven |publisher=Leuven University Press |date=1992 |isbn=9789061864950 |oclc=60241515 |pages=779–800 }}

• {{cite book|author1-last=Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |chapter=The Publication of Mark's Gospel |editor1-last=Focant |editor1-first=Camille |editor1-link=Camille Focant |title=The Synoptic Gospels - Source Criticism and The New Literary Criticism |series=Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensium |volume=110 (ed. |location=Leuven |publisher=Leuven University Press |date=1993 |oclc=902057788 |pages=518–20 }}

• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Thessalonians and the Synoptic Gospels |journal=Biblica |volume=19 |date=1938 |pages=19–42 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bsw.org/index.php?l=71 |title=Thessalonians and the Synoptic Gospels |access-date=13 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Rejection of Christ |journal=Downside Review |volume=LVI |date=1938 |pages=410–26 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.periodicals.com/html/ihp_e.html?ed03151 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201022829/http://www.periodicals.com/html/ihp_e.html?ed03151 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2013 |title=The Rejection of Christ |access-date=13 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Persecution of Christ |journal=Downside Review |volume=LVII |date=1939 |pages=189–98 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Two Year Public Ministry Viewed and Reviewed |journal=Downside Review |volume=LVII |date=1939 |pages=308–39 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=St Paul and the Book of Daniel |journal=Biblica |volume=20 |date=1939 |pages=172–79 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=A Note on the Meaning of Galatians 2: 3-5 |journal=Journal of Theological Studies |volume=43 |date=1942 |pages=173–77 }}{{Cite journal|title=A Note on the Meaning of Galatians 2: 3-5 |journal=The Journal of Theological Studies |volume=os-XLIII |issue=171–172 |pages=173–177 |doi=10.1093/jts/os-XLIII.171-172.173 |year=1942 |last1=Orchard |first1=Bernard }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=A New Solution of the Galatians Problem |journal=Bulletin of the John Rylands Library |volume=28 |date=1944 |pages=154–74 |doi=10.7227/BJRL.28.1.9 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections/information/publications/bulletin/ |title=A New Solution of the Galatians Problem |access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093413/http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections/information/publications/bulletin/ |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Problem of Acts and Galatians |journal=Catholic Biblical Quarterly |volume=7 |date=1945 |pages=377–97 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Prayers We have in Common: The Biblical Aspect|journal=Worship |volume=47 |issue=3 |date=March 1973 |pages=144–49 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/worship/ |title=Prayers We have in Common: The Biblical Aspect |access-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172235/http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/worship/ |archive-date=11 May 2008 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Meaning of ton epiousion (Mt 6:11 = Lk 11:3) |journal=Biblical Theology Bulletin |volume=III |issue=3 |date=1973 |pages=274–82 }}{{cite web|url=http://academic.shu.edu/btb |title=The Meaning of ton epiousion (Mt 6:11 = Lk 11:3) |access-date=15 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Ellipsis between Galatians 2:3 and 2:4 |journal=Biblica |volume=54 |date=1973 |pages=469–81 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Priestly Training according to the Gospels |journal=Omnis Terra (English Edition) |volume=58 |date=February 1974 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Once again the Ellipsis between Galatians 2:3 and 2:4 |journal=Biblica |volume=57 |date=1976 |pages=254–55 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=John A. T. Robinson and the Synoptic Problem |journal=New Testament Studies |volume=22 |date=1975–76 |pages=346–452 |title-link=John A. T. Robinson }}{{cite web|url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=NTS |title=John A. T. Robinson and the Synoptic Problem |access-date=15 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=JJ Griesbach: Synoptic and Text Critical Studies 1776-1976 |journal=Society for New Testament Studies |date=1978 }}{{cite web|url=http://assets.cambridge.org/97805210/20558/frontmatter/9780521020558_frontmatter.pdf |title=PDF of JJ Griesbach: Synoptic and Text Critical Studies 1776-1976 |access-date=15 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.surfgroepen.nl/sites/SNTS/default.aspx |title=JJ Griesbach: Synoptic and Text Critical Studies 1776-1976 |access-date=15 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Are All Gospel Synopses Biased? |journal=Theologische Zeitschrift |volume=34 |date=1978 |pages=149–62 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Why THREE Synoptic Gospels? |journal=Irish Theological Quarterly |volume=46 |issue=4 |date=1979 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Solution of the Synoptic Problem |journal=Scripture Bulletin |volume=XVIII |issue=1 |date=Winter 1987 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ushaw.ac.uk/cba/index.php |title=The Solution of the Synoptic Problem |access-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806230516/http://www.ushaw.ac.uk/cba/index.php |archive-date=6 August 2007 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Formation of the Synoptic Gospels |journal=Downside Review |volume=106 |issue=362 |date=Jan 1988 |pages=1–16 |doi=10.1177/001258068810636201 |s2cid=134623493 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Making and Publication of Mark's Gospel: An Historical Investigation |journal=Annales Theologici |volume=1 |date=1993 |pages=369–93 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.churchinhistory.org/pages/orchard/annales.pdf |title=The Making and Publication of Mark's Gospel: An Historical Investigation |access-date=15 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Dei Verbum and the Synoptic Gospels |journal=Downside Review |volume=108 |issue=372 |date=1996 |pages=199–213 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1996/9605scrp.asp |title=Dei Verbum and the Synoptic Gospels |access-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507191742/http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1996/9605scrp.asp |archive-date=7 May 2008 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=Josephus and the Unnamed Priests of his Roman Mission |journal=Downside Review |volume=113 |issue=393 |date=October 1995 |pages=248–70 |title-link=Josephus |doi=10.1177/001258069511339302 |s2cid=163305477 }}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Bethrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph |journal=Homiletic and Pastoral Review |volume=CII |issue=1 |date=October 2001 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2001-10/orchard.html |title=The Bethrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph |access-date=15 November 2018}}
• {{cite journal|author1-last=Bernard Orchard |author1-first=Bernard |author1-mask=3 |title=The Bethrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph |journal=Homiletic and Pastoral Review |volume=CII |issue=2 |date=November 2001 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Orchard, Bernard}}

Category:1910 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:Alumni of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Category:20th-century British Roman Catholic theologians

Category:20th-century British Roman Catholic priests

Category:Benedictine biblical scholars

Category:Benedictine theologians

Category:British Benedictines

Category:British biblical scholars

Category:New Testament scholars

Category:People from Bromley

Category:People educated at St Benedict's School, Ealing

Category:British Roman Catholic writers

Category:University of Dallas faculty