John Graham (bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Graham was an English churchman and academic. He was master of Christ's College, Cambridge
from 1830 to 1848 and Bishop of Chester
from 1848 to 1865.
, was born in Claypath, Durham. He was educated at Durham School
, and at Christ's College, Cambridge
, where he attained high proficiency as a classical and mathematical scholar. In 1816 he graduated as fourth wrangler, and was bracketed with Marmaduke Lawson as chancellor's medallist, proceeding B.A. 1816, M.A. 1819, B.D. 1829, and D.D. by royal mandate in 1831. He was elected a fellow and tutor of his college in 1816, and on the resignation of Dr. John Kaye in 1830 was chosen master of Christ's College.
In 1828 he was collated to the prebend of Sanctæ Crucis in Lincoln Cathedral
, and six years afterwards to the prebend of Leighton Ecclesia in the same diocese. He served twice as vice-chancellor of the university — in 1831, and again in 1840. It was in the latter year that he admitted Lord Lyndhurst
to the office of high steward of the university, and his speech on that occasion is printed in Cooper
's Annals of Cambridge Ordained in 1818, he became rector of Willingham, Cambridgeshire
in 1843. He was nominated chaplain to Prince Albert
on 26 Jan. 1841, and in the contest for the chancellorship of Cambridge University, 27 Feb. 1847, he acted as chairman of the prince's committee. In 1848, on the translation of John Bird Sumner
to the see of Canterbury, Graham received the vacant bishopric of Chester
. His consecration took place in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, on 14 May 1848, and on 16 June he was installed in Chester Cathedral
. On the occasion of his leaving Cambridge the mayor and council of the town tendered him an address of congratulation on his appointment, the only instance in which a tribute of the kind had ever been offered by that body. The bishop was a liberal in politics, but seldom spoke or voted in the House of Lords. He was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge universities commission, and took an active part in its proceedings. His manner of life was simple. His leading idea was to preserve peace in the diocese; he could, however, be firm when occasion required. His conciliatory manner was extended to the dissenters of Chester. He thus gave some offence to the high church party.
On 25 Sept. 1849 he was appointed Clerk of the Closet
to the queen, an appointment which he held to his death. He enjoyed the friendship of the prince consort and the respect of the queen. He died at the Palace, Chester, 15 June 1865, and was buried in Chester cemetery 20 June. In 1833 he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Robert Porteous, by whom he had eight children, the eldest being the Rev. John Graham (1834–1873), registrar of the diocese of Chester
.
Some of his sermons are also to be found in the publications of the Church Missionary Society, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the General Society for Promoting District Visiting, and the African Church Missionary Society.
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
from 1830 to 1848 and Bishop of Chester
Bishop of Chester
The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral...
from 1848 to 1865.
Life
Graham, only son of John Graham, managing clerk to Thomas Griffith of the Bailey, DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, was born in Claypath, Durham. He was educated at Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
, and at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, where he attained high proficiency as a classical and mathematical scholar. In 1816 he graduated as fourth wrangler, and was bracketed with Marmaduke Lawson as chancellor's medallist, proceeding B.A. 1816, M.A. 1819, B.D. 1829, and D.D. by royal mandate in 1831. He was elected a fellow and tutor of his college in 1816, and on the resignation of Dr. John Kaye in 1830 was chosen master of Christ's College.
In 1828 he was collated to the prebend of Sanctæ Crucis in Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
, and six years afterwards to the prebend of Leighton Ecclesia in the same diocese. He served twice as vice-chancellor of the university — in 1831, and again in 1840. It was in the latter year that he admitted Lord Lyndhurst
John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst
John Singleton Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst PC KS FRS , was a British lawyer and politician. He was three times Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Background and education:...
to the office of high steward of the university, and his speech on that occasion is printed in Cooper
Charles Henry Cooper
Charles Henry Cooper was an English antiquarian.-Life:Born at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, he was descended from a family formerly of Bray in Berkshire. He was privately educated in Reading. In 1826 he settled in Cambridge, and in 1836 was elected coroner of the borough...
's Annals of Cambridge Ordained in 1818, he became rector of Willingham, Cambridgeshire
Willingham, Cambridgeshire
Willingham is a medium to large village in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the edge of the Fens just south of the River Ouse. Driving north from the village one may observe the characteristic elevated straight roads and black soil....
in 1843. He was nominated chaplain to Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
on 26 Jan. 1841, and in the contest for the chancellorship of Cambridge University, 27 Feb. 1847, he acted as chairman of the prince's committee. In 1848, on the translation of John Bird Sumner
John Bird Sumner
John Bird Sumner was a bishop in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury.-Life:Sumner was the elder brother of Bishop Charles Richard Sumner. He was born at Kenilworth, Warwickshire and educated at Eton College and Cambridge University. In 1802 he became a master at Eton and was...
to the see of Canterbury, Graham received the vacant bishopric of Chester
Bishop of Chester
The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral...
. His consecration took place in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, on 14 May 1848, and on 16 June he was installed in Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, and is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly St Werburgh's abbey church of a Benedictine monastery, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. On the occasion of his leaving Cambridge the mayor and council of the town tendered him an address of congratulation on his appointment, the only instance in which a tribute of the kind had ever been offered by that body. The bishop was a liberal in politics, but seldom spoke or voted in the House of Lords. He was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge universities commission, and took an active part in its proceedings. His manner of life was simple. His leading idea was to preserve peace in the diocese; he could, however, be firm when occasion required. His conciliatory manner was extended to the dissenters of Chester. He thus gave some offence to the high church party.
On 25 Sept. 1849 he was appointed Clerk of the Closet
Clerk of the Closet
The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see...
to the queen, an appointment which he held to his death. He enjoyed the friendship of the prince consort and the respect of the queen. He died at the Palace, Chester, 15 June 1865, and was buried in Chester cemetery 20 June. In 1833 he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Robert Porteous, by whom he had eight children, the eldest being the Rev. John Graham (1834–1873), registrar of the diocese of Chester
Diocese of Chester
The Diocese of Chester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York based in Chester, covering the county of Cheshire in its pre-1974 boundaries...
.
Publications
- Sermons on the Commandments, 1826
- Sermons, 1827, 1837, 1837, 1841, 1845, 1855
- A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese at the Primary Visitation of the Bishop of Chester, 1849
Some of his sermons are also to be found in the publications of the Church Missionary Society, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the General Society for Promoting District Visiting, and the African Church Missionary Society.