John Octavius Johnston
Encyclopedia
John Octavius Johnston was a British Anglican
priest and theologian.
, Devon
and educated at Barnstaple Grammar School, before studying at Keble College, Oxford
from 1874 to 1879. He obtained a second-class degree in Literae Humaniores
and a first-class degree in theology, winning the Senior Hall Houghton Greek Testament Prize in 1880. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
, and was curate
of Kidlington
, Oxfordshire
from 1879 to 1881. Between 1881 and 1884, he was appointed principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford
(an Anglican theological college, which is now a Permanent Private Hall
of the University of Oxford
). He was tutor in theology at Merton College, Oxford
from 1883 to 1895, holding in addition between 1885 and 1895 the positions of Merton College chaplain and vicar of All Saints Church, Oxford
. In 1895, he was appointed Principal of Cuddesdon Theological College and vicar of Cuddesdon
, Oxfordshire, leaving in 1913. He was an honorary canon
of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
from 1902 to 1913, and in 1913 became Canon and Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral
. He died on 6 November 1923.
His obituary in The Times said that he "exercised no small influence in the Church of England, partly by his books and partly by his work in training ordination candidates." His publications included work on Three Anti-Pelagian Treatises of St Augustine, Dr Liddon's Life of Dr Pusey
, Dr Pusey's Spiritual Letters and Life and Letters of H. P. Liddon. The Life of Pusey, according to his obituary in The Times
, was "monumental" and had "practically killed" Liddon to prepare; Johnston completed the work. His one-volume Life of Liddon was regarded by The Times as a better tribute to its subject than Liddon's Life of Pusey.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest and theologian.
Life
Johnston was born in BarnstapleBarnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and educated at Barnstaple Grammar School, before studying at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
from 1874 to 1879. He obtained 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",...
and a first-class degree in theology, winning the Senior Hall Houghton Greek Testament Prize in 1880. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Kidlington
Kidlington
Kidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
from 1879 to 1881. Between 1881 and 1884, he was appointed principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
(an Anglican theological college, which is now a Permanent Private Hall
Permanent Private Hall
A Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford is an educational institution within the university. There are six Permanent Private Halls at Oxford, five of which admit undergraduates. They were founded by different Christian denominations....
of 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...
). He was tutor in theology at Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
from 1883 to 1895, holding in addition between 1885 and 1895 the positions of Merton College chaplain and vicar of All Saints Church, Oxford
All Saints Church, Oxford
All Saints Church is on the north side of the High Street in central Oxford, England, on the corner of Turl Street. It is now the library of Lincoln College. This former church is Grade I listed.-History:...
. In 1895, he was appointed Principal of Cuddesdon Theological College and vicar of Cuddesdon
Cuddesdon
Cuddesdon is an east Oxfordshire village about east of Oxford. It is notable as the location of Ripon College Cuddesdon....
, Oxfordshire, leaving in 1913. He was 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 Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
from 1902 to 1913, and in 1913 became Canon and Chancellor of 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...
. He died on 6 November 1923.
His obituary in The Times said that he "exercised no small influence in the Church of England, partly by his books and partly by his work in training ordination candidates." His publications included work on Three Anti-Pelagian Treatises of St Augustine, Dr Liddon's Life of Dr Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
, Dr Pusey's Spiritual Letters and Life and Letters of H. P. Liddon. The Life of Pusey, according to his obituary in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, was "monumental" and had "practically killed" Liddon to prepare; Johnston completed the work. His one-volume Life of Liddon was regarded by The Times as a better tribute to its subject than Liddon's Life of Pusey.