George Cornelius Gorham: Difference between revisions
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Gorham was born in [[St Neots]], [[Huntingdonshire]]. He entered [[Queens' College, Cambridge]] in 1805, graduating BA as 3rd [[Wrangler (University of Cambridge)|wrangler]] and Smith's prizeman in 1809.<ref>{{acad|id=GRN805GC|name=Gorham, George Cornelius}}</ref> |
Gorham was born in [[St Neots]], [[Huntingdonshire]]. He entered [[Queens' College, Cambridge]], in 1805, graduating BA as 3rd [[Wrangler (University of Cambridge)|wrangler]] and Smith's prizeman in 1809.<ref>{{acad|id=GRN805GC|name=Gorham, George Cornelius}}</ref> |
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He was ordained in 1811, despite the misgivings of the [[Bishop of Ely]], [[Thomas Dampier]], who found Gorham's views at odds with [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[doctrine]]. Gorham's views on baptism had caused comment, particularly his contention that by baptism infants do not become members of Christ and the children of God.<ref name=nie/> After [[curate|curacies]] in several parishes, he was instituted as vicar of [[St Just in Penwith]] by [[Henry Phillpotts]], [[Bishop of Exeter]], in 1846. |
He was ordained in 1811, despite the misgivings of the [[Bishop of Ely]], [[Thomas Dampier]], who found Gorham's views at odds with [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[doctrine]]. Gorham's views on baptism had caused comment, particularly his contention that by baptism infants do not become members of Christ and the children of God.<ref name=nie/> After [[curate|curacies]] in several parishes, he was instituted as vicar of [[St Just in Penwith]] by [[Henry Phillpotts]], [[Bishop of Exeter]], in 1846. |
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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The following year, Gorham was recommended for [[Brampford Speke]] |
The following year, Gorham was recommended for [[Brampford Speke]], a small village in [[Devon]], 4 miles to the north of [[Exeter]], which has a [[Church of England parish church]] dedicated to [[St Peter]]. |
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Upon examining him, Bishop Phillpotts took exception to Gorham's view that [[baptismal regeneration]] was conditional and dependent upon a later personal adoption of promises made. The |
Upon examining him, Bishop Henry Phillpotts took exception to Gorham's view that [[baptismal regeneration]] was conditional and dependent upon a later personal adoption of promises made. The bishop found Gorham to be a [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] in this matter and hence unsuitable for the post. |
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Gorham appealed to the ecclesiastical [[Court of Arches]] to compel the bishop to institute him but the court confirmed the bishop's decision and awarded costs against Gorham. |
Gorham appealed to the ecclesiastical [[Court of Arches]] to compel the bishop to institute him but the court confirmed the bishop's decision and awarded costs against Gorham. |
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Gorham then appealed to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]], which caused great controversy about whether a secular court should decide on the doctrine of the Church of England. |
Gorham then appealed to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]], which caused great controversy about whether a secular court should decide on the doctrine of the Church of England. The ecclesiastical lawyer [[Edward Lowth Badeley]], a member of the [[Oxford Movement]], appeared before the committee to argue the bishop's cause but eventually the committee (in a split decision) reversed the bishop's and the Arches' decision on 9 March 1850, granting Gorham his institution. |
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Phillpotts repudiated the judgment and threatened to excommunicate the Archbishop of Canterbury and anyone who dared to institute Gorham. |
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Fourteen prominent Anglicans, including Badeley and [[Henry Edward Manning]], called upon the Church of England to repudiate the views that the Privy Council had expressed on baptism. As there was no response from the |
Fourteen prominent Anglicans, including Badeley and [[Henry Edward Manning]], called upon the Church of England to repudiate the views that the Privy Council had expressed on baptism. As there was no response from the church – apart from Phillpotts' protestations – they left the Church of England and joined the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>[[Lytton Strachey]] ''Eminent Victorians''</ref> |
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==Subsequent life== |
==Subsequent life== |
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Gorham himself spent the rest of his life at his post in Brampford Speke. As vicar, Gorham [[Victorian restoration|restored]] the church building, entirely rebuilding the tower, for which |
Gorham himself spent the rest of his life at his post in Brampford Speke. As vicar, Gorham [[Victorian restoration|restored]] the church building, entirely rebuilding the tower, for which Phillpotts gave some money. He was an antiquary of some reputation, and the author of a number of pamphlets.<ref name=nie>{{cite NIE |year=1905 |editor-last=Gilman |editor-first=Daniel Coit |editor-link=Daniel Coit Gilman |editor2-last=Peck |editor2-first=Harry Thurston |editor3-last=Colby |editor3-first=Frank Moore |wstitle=Gorham, George Cornelius |volume=9 |publisher=Dodd, Mead and Company |page=50}}</ref> |
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==Publications== |
==Publications== |
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Revision as of 23:57, 13 December 2017
George Cornelius Gorham | |
|---|---|
| Vicar of Brampford Speke | |
 Gorham in 1850 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Exeter |
| In office | 1847–1857 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1811 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 August 1787 St Neots, Huntingdonshire, England |
| Died | 19 June 1857 (aged 69) |
| Alma mater | Queens' College, Cambridge |
George Cornelius Gorham (21 August 1787 – 19 June 1857) was a vicar in the Church of England. His legal recourse to being denied a certain post, subsequently taken to a secular court, caused great controversy.
Early life
Gorham was born in St Neots, Huntingdonshire. He entered Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1805, graduating BA as 3rd wrangler and Smith's prizeman in 1809.[1]
He was ordained in 1811, despite the misgivings of the Bishop of Ely, Thomas Dampier, who found Gorham's views at odds with Anglican doctrine. Gorham's views on baptism had caused comment, particularly his contention that by baptism infants do not become members of Christ and the children of God.[2] After curacies in several parishes, he was instituted as vicar of St Just in Penwith by Henry Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, in 1846.
Controversy
The following year, Gorham was recommended for Brampford Speke, a small village in Devon, 4 miles to the north of Exeter, which has a Church of England parish church dedicated to St Peter.
Upon examining him, Bishop Henry Phillpotts took exception to Gorham's view that baptismal regeneration was conditional and dependent upon a later personal adoption of promises made. The bishop found Gorham to be a Calvinist in this matter and hence unsuitable for the post.
Gorham appealed to the ecclesiastical Court of Arches to compel the bishop to institute him but the court confirmed the bishop's decision and awarded costs against Gorham.
Gorham then appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which caused great controversy about whether a secular court should decide on the doctrine of the Church of England. The ecclesiastical lawyer Edward Lowth Badeley, a member of the Oxford Movement, appeared before the committee to argue the bishop's cause but eventually the committee (in a split decision) reversed the bishop's and the Arches' decision on 9 March 1850, granting Gorham his institution.
Phillpotts repudiated the judgment and threatened to excommunicate the Archbishop of Canterbury and anyone who dared to institute Gorham.
Fourteen prominent Anglicans, including Badeley and Henry Edward Manning, called upon the Church of England to repudiate the views that the Privy Council had expressed on baptism. As there was no response from the church – apart from Phillpotts' protestations – they left the Church of England and joined the Roman Catholic Church.[3]
Subsequent life
Gorham himself spent the rest of his life at his post in Brampford Speke. As vicar, Gorham restored the church building, entirely rebuilding the tower, for which Phillpotts gave some money. He was an antiquary of some reputation, and the author of a number of pamphlets.[2]
Publications
- George Cornelius Gorham, The History and Antiquities of Eynesbury and St. Neot's, in Huntingdonshire, and of St. Neot's in the county of Cornwall, 1820.
Notes
- ^ "Gorham, George Cornelius (GRN805GC)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ a b Gilman, Daniel Coit; Peck, Harry Thurston; Colby, Frank Moore, eds. (1905). . New International Encyclopedia. Vol. 9 (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. p. 50.
- ^ Lytton Strachey Eminent Victorians
External links
- Documents connected with the Gorham Controversy from Project Canterbury
- . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
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