George Kilpatrick
Encyclopedia
George Dunbar Kilpatrick (15 September 1910 – 14 January 1989) was an Anglican priest and theologian. He was Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford
from 1949 to 1977.
, Canada
. He studied at University College, London (obtaining a first-class degree in classics in 1932) and Oriel College, Oxford (obtaining a second-class degree in Literae Humaniores
(classics) in 1934 and a second-class degree in theology in 1936, as well as a Bachelor of Divinity
degree in 1944). He was ordained deacon in 1936 and priest in 1937, serving as a curate in Horsell
, Surrey
and in Selly Oak
, Birmingham
.
After tutoring at Queen's College, Edgbaston and serving as Acting Warden of the College of the Ascension, Selly Oak, Kilpatrick became rector
of Wishaw, Warwickshire
and a lecturer at Lichfield Theological College in 1942. He became head of the Department of Theology and Reader
in Christian Theology at University College Nottingham in 1946. He was Grinfield Lecturer on the Septuagint at the University of Oxford
from 1945 to 1949, and obtained his Doctor of Divinity
degree in 1948.. He was appointed Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture
in 1949, a position that carried with it a Fellowship at The Queen's College, Oxford
. He held the professorship and fellowship until 1977. He was appointed a Fellow of University College, London in 1967.
He has been described as "one of the outstanding textual critics of the twentieth century". His publications included The Origins of the Gospel according to St Matthew (1946), The Trial of Jesus (1953) and The Eucharist in Bible and Liturgy (1984), as well as various articles in journals and periodicals. He died on 14 January 1989.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
from 1949 to 1977.
Life
Kilpatrick was born in Coal Creek, British ColumbiaCoal Creek, British Columbia
Coal Creek is a ghost town near Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. Everybody left the town in the 1950s due to the closure of a huge mine. There is still some historic places left in Coal Creek. There was a big mine disaster on May 22, 1902 . Above the old mine you can see that the coal seam that...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He studied at University College, London (obtaining a first-class degree in classics in 1932) and Oriel College, Oxford (obtaining a second-class degree in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
(classics) in 1934 and a second-class degree in theology in 1936, as well as a Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree in 1944). He was ordained deacon in 1936 and priest in 1937, serving as a curate in Horsell
Horsell
Horsell in Surrey is an ancient village nearby to the more modern 19th century Woking, probably best known because of its association with the story The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells. It is the home of the book's narrator , and the landing site of the first Martian transport vessel...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and in Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
After tutoring at Queen's College, Edgbaston and serving as Acting Warden of the College of the Ascension, Selly Oak, Kilpatrick became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Wishaw, Warwickshire
Wishaw, Warwickshire
Wishaw is a village and civil parish in the north-west of Warwickshire, England. It is located within the district of North Warwickshire and is famous as the home of The Belfry golf resort, which has hosted the Ryder Cup on no less than four separate occasions...
and a lecturer at Lichfield Theological College in 1942. He became head of the Department of Theology and Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in Christian Theology at University College Nottingham in 1946. He was Grinfield Lecturer on the Septuagint at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
from 1945 to 1949, and obtained his Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree in 1948.. He was appointed Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture
Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture
The position of Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture was established at the University of Oxford in 1847. The professorship was instituted by John Ireland, Dean of Westminster from 1816 until his death in 1842, who acquired considerable riches during his ecclesiastical career...
in 1949, a position that carried with it a Fellowship at The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
. He held the professorship and fellowship until 1977. He was appointed a Fellow of University College, London in 1967.
He has been described as "one of the outstanding textual critics of the twentieth century". His publications included The Origins of the Gospel according to St Matthew (1946), The Trial of Jesus (1953) and The Eucharist in Bible and Liturgy (1984), as well as various articles in journals and periodicals. He died on 14 January 1989.