Theophilus MacCartan (1700–1778) was Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor from 10 September 1760 until his death on 16 December 1778.
It is the most central and contains the towns of Ballynahinch, Saintfield, Downpatrick, Clough, Dundrum, Newcastle and Castlewellan.
[2] His early life and education took place against the Penal Laws's backdrop, so firm details are scarce.
But a generally respected source, writing at the end of the nineteenth century, asserts that the future bishop was born in Aughnagon near Mayobridge around 1700.
[5] There is a record of then-bishop (and his kinsman) Dominic McCartan from Clonvarghan House each subscribing £5 so that the popular devotional book Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis could be translated into Irish.