Bernard and his twin brother Basil were born in
Birmingham to William and Helen (née Swadkins) Griffin. His father was a bicycle manufacturer, Birmingham City councillor and
justice of the peace. When the
First World War broke out in 1914 both Bernard and Basil joined the
Royal Naval Air Service, with whom Bernard served as an
air-raid warden. After the war Bernard went to
Oscott College in Birmingham to train to be a priest.
Ordained to the
priesthood on 1 November 1924, he finished his studies at the
Venerable English College in
Rome in 1927. Griffin then worked as private secretary to
John McIntyre, the
Archbishop of Birmingham, until 1937. From 1929 to 1938, he served as
diocesan chancellor of Birmingham, director of studies of the
Catholic Evidence Guild, Catholic representative on the
BBC's religious advisory committee, and administrator of
diocesan charitable homes. On 26 May 1938, Griffin was appointed
Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and
Titular Bishop of Appia. He received his
episcopal consecration on 30 June from
Thomas Williams (Archbishop of Birmingham), with
John Barrett,
Bishop of Plymouth, and
William Lee (Bishop of Clifton), serving as
co-consecrators, in the
Cathedral of Saint Chad, Birmingham.
Pius XII raised Griffin to
Archbishop of Westminster, and thus ranking prelate in the
Catholic Church in England and Wales, on 18 December 1943. At his installation Mass in
Westminster Cathedral, he defended the sanctity of
marriage. Griffin was created
Cardinal-Priest of
San Gregorio Magno al Celio by Pius XII in the
consistory of 18 February 1946. At age 46, he was the youngest cardinal to be appointed at the ceremony, to which he wore the tailored
cappa magna of his deceased predecessor cardinal,
Arthur Hinsley. He acted as
papal legate to the
centennial celebration of the
restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England in 1950. As cardinal, Griffin took a keen interest in the rebuilding of post-war Britain arguing especially for the provision of Catholic schools. He was seen by some as
liberal in areas of
social principles. He also supported Sir
William Beveridge. and was once a president on the
Council of Christians and Jews. Griffin died from a
heart attack in
New Polzeath, at age 57, and was buried at
Westminster Cathedral. His coat of arms is blazoned
Gules issuant from a barrulet enarched in base a sweet william plant in pale Or supported by a Saint Bernard dog dexter and a griffin wings addorsed sinister Or, thus representing his full name. On the 22 October 1960, Bernard's twin brother, Basil, laid the foundation stone of
Cardinal Griffin Catholic College in
Cannock,
Staffordshire. ==Assessment==