John Erskine Clarke
Encyclopedia
John Erskine Clarke was a British clergyman who issued the first parish magazine. He established several other religious publications and was responsible for founding churches schools and hospitals in Battersea
. He also competed at Henley Royal Regatta
.
Clarke was born at Cossepor, Bengal, India the eldest son of William Fairlie Clarke an official of the East India Company. Clarke's father died in 1835 and the family returned to Edinburgh. He was admitted to Wadham College, Oxford
on 26 June 1846. Clarke rowed at Oxford and in 1849 was in the Wadham College
eight
that won the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
. In 1850 in a single scull
he was runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls
to Thomas Bone
. In 1851 partnering C L Vaughan in a coxless pair
, he was runner up in the Silver Goblets at Henley to James Aitken
and Joseph William Chitty.
Clarke took Holy Orders
and became curate of St Mary, Low Harrogate in 1851. In 1852 he became curate of St Mary, Lichfield until 1856, when he became vicar of St Michael Derby. The east gable of St Michael's fell in during a service in 1856 and it was rebuilt in 1858. While he was at St Michael’s he started the world’s first Parish Magazine
in January 1859. He was an active supporter of the Derby Co-operative Society providing a library and as a representative of the Working Men's Association helped provide for a grocery store. He was also president of what was known as the Happy Home Union. In 1863 he founded "The Children's Prize", a paper for young children later called "The Prize". In 1866 he moved to St Andrew Derby and set to work with publisher William Macintosh to produce "Chatterbox", a weekly paper for older children. The first edition went on sale on 1st December 1866. Clarke became a Prebendary
of Lichfield Cathedral
in 1869. In 1871 he started "Church Bells", another religious weekly newspaper.
In 1872, Clarke became Vicar of St Mary's Church, Battersea and remained there for 37 years. There, he founded the “Provident Dispensary” in Battersea, and established "The Vicarage School for Girls" at the vicarage house near the River Thames
. The school later moved to Clapham Common
. From 1872 until 1916 Clarke was a governor of Sir Walter St John’s Trust and was instrumental in establishing Battersea Grammar School
. In 1875 he became an Honorary Canon
of Winchester Cathedral
(Battersea then being in the Diocese of Winchester
). Following the transfer of Battersea and several other parishes in the north of Surrey
to the Diocese of Rochester
in 1877, he was appointed Rural Dean
in 1880, and served as diocesan Proctor
.
Clarke inspired the building of several churches in Battersea during the second half of the nineteenth century. His own endeavours led to the building of St Mark’s, Battersea Rise, St Peter’s, Plough Road, St Matthew’s and St Luke’s in 1889. Clarke was a member of the Board of Governors of the Provident Dispensary (Battersea), and saw an urgent need for an in-patient hospital in Battersea. Through public subscription and charitable gifts, Clarke was able to buy a house in Five Houses Lane, Battersea, (now Bolingbroke Grove) which was owned by Viscount Bolingbroke
and established there in 1880 a "House of Sickness" which became the Bolingbroke Hospital. Clarke's aim was that the hospital should provide for "the artisan or self respecting middle class people" who preferred to pay something for their care instead of going into a Poor Law Institution (workhouse).
On 27 July 1895, Clarke was made Honorary Chaplain
to Queen Victoria, and after her death in 1901 continued in the same role to King Edward VII. He built a new vicarage for St Luke's on his own property in 1901 and was Vicar of St Luke’s from 1901 until 1914. He was appointed Honorary Canon of Southwark in 1905, when the new Anglican Diocese of Southwark
was founded. He also continued as an Honorary Chaplain, now to King George V on his accession in 1910.
Clarke suffered a stroke in 1916. He died four years later aged 92 at St Luke's Vicarage and was buried at Elvington, Kent
.
There are memorials to Clarke in St Mary’s and St Luke’s Churches in Battersea. A house in Battersea Grammar School was named after him.
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
. He also competed at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
.
Clarke was born at Cossepor, Bengal, India the eldest son of William Fairlie Clarke an official of the East India Company. Clarke's father died in 1835 and the family returned to Edinburgh. He was admitted to Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
on 26 June 1846. Clarke rowed at Oxford and in 1849 was in the Wadham College
Wadham College Boat Club
Wadham College Boat Club is the rowing club of Wadham College, Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The club's members are students and staff from Wadham College and Harris Manchester College. Founded some time before 1837, Wadham has had great success both within Oxford and externally in regattas...
eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
that won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. In 1850 in a single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
he was runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
to Thomas Bone
Thomas Bone
Thomas Robson Bone was an English rower who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1849 and 1850 and who also won the Wingfield Sculls in 1850 and 1851....
. In 1851 partnering C L Vaughan in a coxless pair
Coxless pair
A Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side...
, he was runner up in the Silver Goblets at Henley to James Aitken
James Aitken (clergyman)
James Aitken was an English clergyman and sportsman who excelled in cricket, rowing and athletics.Aitken was born at Monken Hadley, then in Middlesex, the son of John Aitken and his wife Harriet. He was educated at Eton College where he played cricket in the Eton XI...
and Joseph William Chitty.
Clarke took Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
and became curate of St Mary, Low Harrogate in 1851. In 1852 he became curate of St Mary, Lichfield until 1856, when he became vicar of St Michael Derby. The east gable of St Michael's fell in during a service in 1856 and it was rebuilt in 1858. While he was at St Michael’s he started the world’s first Parish Magazine
Parish Magazine
A parish magazine is a periodical produced by and for an ecclesiastical parish, generally within the Anglican Church. It usually comprises a mixture of religious articles, community contributions and parish notices, including the previous month‘s christenings, marriages and funerals. Magazines...
in January 1859. He was an active supporter of the Derby Co-operative Society providing a library and as a representative of the Working Men's Association helped provide for a grocery store. He was also president of what was known as the Happy Home Union. In 1863 he founded "The Children's Prize", a paper for young children later called "The Prize". In 1866 he moved to St Andrew Derby and set to work with publisher William Macintosh to produce "Chatterbox", a weekly paper for older children. The first edition went on sale on 1st December 1866. Clarke became a Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
in 1869. In 1871 he started "Church Bells", another religious weekly newspaper.
In 1872, Clarke became Vicar of St Mary's Church, Battersea and remained there for 37 years. There, he founded the “Provident Dispensary” in Battersea, and established "The Vicarage School for Girls" at the vicarage house near the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. The school later moved to Clapham Common
Clapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
. From 1872 until 1916 Clarke was a governor of Sir Walter St John’s Trust and was instrumental in establishing Battersea Grammar School
Battersea Grammar School
Battersea Grammar School was a Voluntary-Controlled Secondary Grammar School in South London. It was established in Battersea by the Sir Walter St John Trust in 1875 and moved to larger premises in Streatham in 1936....
. In 1875 he became an Honorary Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
(Battersea then being in the Diocese of Winchester
Diocese of Winchester
The Diocese of Winchester forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England.Founded in 676, it is one of the oldest and largest of the dioceses in England.The area of the diocese incorporates:...
). Following the transfer of Battersea and several other parishes in the north of 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...
to the Diocese of Rochester
Diocese of Rochester
The Diocese of Rochester is a Church of England diocese in South-East England and forms part of the Province of Canterbury. It is an ancient diocese, having been established in 604; only the neighbouring Diocese of Canterbury is older in the Church of England....
in 1877, he was appointed Rural Dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
in 1880, and served as diocesan Proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
.
Clarke inspired the building of several churches in Battersea during the second half of the nineteenth century. His own endeavours led to the building of St Mark’s, Battersea Rise, St Peter’s, Plough Road, St Matthew’s and St Luke’s in 1889. Clarke was a member of the Board of Governors of the Provident Dispensary (Battersea), and saw an urgent need for an in-patient hospital in Battersea. Through public subscription and charitable gifts, Clarke was able to buy a house in Five Houses Lane, Battersea, (now Bolingbroke Grove) which was owned by Viscount Bolingbroke
Viscount Bolingbroke
Viscount Bolingbroke / Viscount St John is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain and is currently held by Nicholas Alexander Mowbray St John, the 9th Viscount Bolingbroke and 10th Viscount St John who lives in Sydney Australia....
and established there in 1880 a "House of Sickness" which became the Bolingbroke Hospital. Clarke's aim was that the hospital should provide for "the artisan or self respecting middle class people" who preferred to pay something for their care instead of going into a Poor Law Institution (workhouse).
On 27 July 1895, Clarke was made Honorary Chaplain
Ecclesiastical Household
The Ecclesiastical Household is a part of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Reflecting the different constitutions of the Churches of England and of Scotland, there are separate Ecclesiastical Households in each nation.-England:...
to Queen Victoria, and after her death in 1901 continued in the same role to King Edward VII. He built a new vicarage for St Luke's on his own property in 1901 and was Vicar of St Luke’s from 1901 until 1914. He was appointed Honorary Canon of Southwark in 1905, when the new Anglican Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
was founded. He also continued as an Honorary Chaplain, now to King George V on his accession in 1910.
Clarke suffered a stroke in 1916. He died four years later aged 92 at St Luke's Vicarage and was buried at Elvington, Kent
Elvington, Kent
Elvington is a small pit village on a ridge in between Canterbury and Dover in the county of Kent in Southeast England. Located near Eythorne, Elvington was mostly built in the early 20th Century to serve the nearby coal mine at Tilmanstone, as were other Kent Coalfield villages including Snowdown,...
.
There are memorials to Clarke in St Mary’s and St Luke’s Churches in Battersea. A house in Battersea Grammar School was named after him.