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Thomas Legh Claughton

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Bp. Thomas Legh Claughton (6 November 1808 - 25 July 1892) was an English poet, academic, and clergyman. He was Oxford Professor of Poetry, bishop of Rochester; and the 1st bishop of St Albans.[1]

Thomas Legh Claughton

Thomas Legh Claughton (1808-1892). Carte-de-visite by E. Harrison, 1860s. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Thomas Claughton
Bishop of St Albans
File:ThomasLeghClaughton.jpg
Church Church of England
Diocese Diocese of St Albans
Enthroned c. 1877
Reign ended 1890
Predecessor Himself (as Bishop of Rochester)
Successor John Festing
Other posts Bishop of Rochester
1867–1877
Oxford Professor of Poetry
1852–1857
Orders
Ordination 1834
Consecration c. 1867
Personal details
Born November 6 1808(1808-Template:MONTHNUMBER-06)
Haydock Lodge, Winwick, Cheshire, England
Died July 25 1892(1892-Template:MONTHNUMBER-25) (aged 83)
Danbury Palace, Essex, England
Buried St. Albans Cathedral
Nationality British
Denomination Anglican
Residence Danbury Palace, Essex
Parents Thomas Claughton MP & Maria
Spouse Hon Julia Ward
Profession Academic; poet
Alma mater Trinity College, Oxford

Life[]

Youth and education[]

Claughton, the son of Thomas Claughton MP and elder brother of Piers Calverley Claughton, was born at Haydock Lodge, Winwick, Lancashire, on 6 November 1808. His mother was Maria, daughter of Colonel Thomas Peter Legh, of Lyme Park, Cheshire.[2]

He was educated at Educated at The King's School, Chester,[3] and at Rugby.[2]

In 1826 he was admitted to Trinity College, Oxford, where he was a scholar in 1827, a fellow from 1832 to 1842, and a tutor. He earned a B.A. with 1st class in literæ humaniores, in 1831, and an M.A. in 1833.[1]

Career[]

He was public examiner in 1835, and select preacher to the university in 1841, 1850, 1863, and 1868.[1] From 1852 to 1857 he held the office of professor of poetry at Oxford.[1] He wrote a fine inaugural ode on the installation of Lord Derby as chancellor of the university in 1853 (printed in Raines's Stanley Papers iii. 391).[1]

On 14 June 1842 he married, Hon. Julia Susanna Ward, daughter of the 10th Lord Ward; the couple had 5 sons and 4 daughters. His eldest daughter was married, in 1863, to Hon. Augustus H.A. Anson MP, who died in 1877; she afterwards became, in 1881, the 2nd wife of George Douglas Campbell, 8th duke of Argyll.[1]

Claughton was ordained in 1834, but seems to have had no settled cure until 1841, when he was presented by Lord Ward (afterwards Earl of Dudley), whose tutor he had been, to the important vicarage of Kidderminster. This populous parish he worked with remarkable energy for 26 years, and brought it to a high standard of ecclesiastical and social activity. Besides organizing a large staff (almost a school) of curates, and establishing daily services and efficient parochial visitations, he fostered schools and additional churches, and carried out the restoration of the fine old parish church. Of many local benevolent and educational institutions he was either the founder or liberal supporter. He was a most effective if not eloquent preacher, and his services for the pulpit or platform were constantly called for all over the kingdom.[1]

Claughton's sympathies were distinctly with the high church party, but he was never an extreme man. He was on terms of close friendship with Charles Wordsworth, bishop of St. Andrews, and with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, and was often the companion of the latter on his Scottish expeditions.[1]

In April 1867 he was nominated as bishop of Rochester on the recommendation of Lord Derby. The chief incidents which marked his comparatively uneventful occupancy of that see were his inhibition of Rev. Arthur Tooth, vicar of St. James's, Hatcham, in 1877, and the creation in the same year of the new diocese of St. Albans, by separation from that of Rochester. Claughton elected to become its bishop, vacating his original see of Rochester though retaining the residence of Danbury Palace, near Chelmsford, Essex.[1]

In 1890, owing to advancing years, he resigned his bishopric, but still resided at Danbury Palace, where he died on 25 July 1892. He was buried in St. Albans cathedral.[1] His widow died at the Priory, Dudley, on 28 May 1902, aged 84.[4]

Writing[]

Claughton edited Questions on the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, 2 volumes, 1853-7. His other publications consisted of single sermons and charges, and an Appeal to his Diocese from the Bishop of St. Albans in behalf of the Cathedral &c., 1878.[1]

Recognition[]

In 1828 his poem on 'Machina Vi Vaporis Impulsa' gained the university prize for Latin verse; in 1829 he won the Newdigate Prize with a poem on "Voyages of Discovery to the Polar Regions;" and in 1832 bore off the prize for a Latin essay on 'De Stoicorum Disciplina.'[1]

Publications[]

Poetry[]

  • "Machinæ vi vaporis impulsæ: carmen latinum" in Theatro Sheldoniano recitatum MDCCCXXVIII. Oxford, UK: Collingwood, 1828.
  • Voyages of Discovery to the Polar Regions: A prize poem, Oxford, UK: J. Vincent, 1829.

Non-fiction[]

  • A Sermon Preached in Memory of the Rev. Robert Wrottesley. Oxford, UK: W. Baxter, 1838.
  • An Address on the Nature and Tendency of Literary and Scientific Pursuits. Kidderminster, UK: For the Athenæum, 1841.
  • A Sermon Preached .. for the Benefit of the Parochial Schools. Birmingham, UK: H.C. Langbridge, 1841.
  • Viae per Angliam ferro stratae. Oxford, UK: Vincent, 1841.
  • A Sermon Preached at the Re-opening of Kidderminster Church. Worcester, UK: R. Child, 1848.
  • Danger both from Rome and Infidelity: A sermon. London: F. & J. Rivington, 1850.
  • The Duty of Opening Our Own Churches to the Poor: A sermon. Birmingham, UK: H.C. Langbridge, 1850.
  • Our Present Duties in Regard of Holy Baptism: A sermon. London: F. & J. Rivington, 1850.
  • The Right of the Poor to a Place in Their Parish Church: A sermon. London: Cleaver, 1852.
  • "The Folly of Trusting in Man:" A sermon. London: Rivington / Kidderminster, UK: G. Friend, 1855.
  • The Joint Work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts and the Church Missionary Society: A sermon. London: Rivingtons, 1855. [External link]
  • "The Year That King Ahaz Died:" A sermon. London: Rivington / Kidderminster, UK: G. Friend, 1855.
  • The Duty of Preparing Ourselves to Receive the Lord's Supper: A pastor's address to his parishioners. Oxford, UK: Parker, 1856.
  • The Use and Excellency of the Episcopal Office: A sermon. Oxford, UK: Parker, 1859.
  • The Duty of Soldiers: A sermon. Oxford, UK: Parker, 1860.
  • Church Choral Associations. London: Rivingtons, 1861.
  • The English Liturgy and Our Duties in Respect of It: A sermon. Oxford, UK: J. Henry / London: J. Parker, 1862. [External link]
  • Prayers for Those in Authority. Marriage. Two sermons. Oxford, UK, & London: Parker, 1863. [External link]
  • A Sermon Preached ... in St. Pauls Church, Edinburgh, February 2, 1863. Edinburgh: R. Grant / London: Rivingtons, 1863.
  • The Duty of Fathers Concerning the Education of Their Children: A short, plain sermon. Oxford, UK, & London: Parker, 1864.
  • The Examples of the Saints: A sermon. Worcester, UK: Eaton & Son, 1864.
  • The Gifts of Christ: A sermon. London: Rivingtons, 1865.
  • God's Providences and Judgments: A sermon. London: Rivingtons, 1866.
  • Godly Teaching: A sermon. London: Rivingtons, 1868.
  • Fishers of Men: A sermon. Oxford. UK: James Parker, 1869.
  • A Charge Delivered to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Diocese of Rochester. London: Rivingtons, 1869.
  • A Sermon Preached in the Chapel of Rugby School. London: Rivingtons, 1872.
  • The Standard of Christian Endeavour: A sermon. London: Hamilton, Adams, 1872.
  • A Charge Delivered to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Diocese of Rochester. London: Rivingtons, 1873.
  • In Memoriam: A few words spoken on the Sunday after the burial of Samuel, Lord Bishop of Winchester. London: Rivingtons, 1873.
  • The Messengers of the Churches: An address on missions. London: Gardner, 1874.
  • The Burial Place of Edmund de Langley, Fifth Son of King Edward III: A sermon. London: Rivingtons, 1878.
  • A Charge Delivered to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Diocese of St. Albans. London: Rivingtons, 1878.
  • Consolation under Bereavement: A sermon. London: Ridgway, 1878.
  • The Reward of Nathanael: A sermon. London: Murray, 1881.
  • Extract from the Inaugural Address. London: Clowes, 1885.

Edited[]

  • Questions on the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels.[1] 2 volumes, Oxford, UK, & London: John Henry Parker. Volume I. Advent to Tuesday in Easter Week, 1853; Volume II. Easter to Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity, 1857.


Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy Project Canterbury.[5]

See also[]

Preceded by
James Garbett 		Oxford Professor of Poetry
1852-1857 		Succeeded by
Matthew Arnold

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Sutton, 30.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sutton, 29.
  3. ↑ "Inspirational Alumni Members". The King's School Chester. http://www.kingschester.co.uk/extras/KingsAlumni/inspirationalAlumni.html. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  4. ↑ Obituary, The Times [issue 36781], Friday, 30 May 1902, 10.
  5. ↑ Thomas Leigh Claughton, Project Canterbury. Web, Mar. 16, 2020.

External links[]

Books
About

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement (edited by Sidney Lee)​. London: Smith, Elder, 1901. Original article is at: Claughton, Thomas Legh

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