Regius Professor of Divinity
Encyclopedia
The Regius Professorship of Divinity is one of the oldest and most prestigious of the professorships at the University of Oxford
and at the University of Cambridge.
Both chairs were founded by Henry VIII
. The Cambridge chair had a stipend of £40 per year, later increased by James I
with the rectory of Somersham, Cambridgeshire.
(Sources: Oxford Historical Register 1200-1900 and supplements; and the Oxford University Calendar)
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...
and at the University of Cambridge.
Both chairs were founded by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The Cambridge chair had a stipend of £40 per year, later increased by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
with the rectory of Somersham, Cambridgeshire.
Oxford listing
- Richard Smyth, DD, Fellow of Merton, and Principal of St Alban Hall (1535)
- Peter MartyrPietro Martire VermigliPeter Martyr Vermigli , sometimes simply Peter Martyr, was an Italian theologian of the Reformation period.-Life:...
, DD, of the University of Padua, Canon of Christ Church (1548) - Richard Smyth again; Canon of Christ Church (1554)
- Juan de VillagarciaJuan de VillagarcíaJuan de Villagarcía was a Spanish Dominican from Valladolid, known as the witness to one of the statements of confession and recantation by Thomas Cranmer.-Life:...
, known as Joannes Fraterculus (a Spanish Dominican), BD, Divinity Reader of Magdalen College (1556) - Richard Smyth again (1559)
- Lawrence HumphreyLawrence HumphreyLawrence Humphrey was an English theologian, who was president of Magdalen College, Oxford, and dean successively of Gloucester and Winchester.-Biography:...
, MA, Fellow, afterwards President, of Magdalen; DD (1560) - Thomas HollandThomas Holland (translator)Thomas Holland was an English Calvinist scholar and theologian, and one of the translators of the King James Version of the Bible.He was a 1570 graduate of Exeter College, Oxford and Fellow of Baliol...
, DD, Fellow of Balliol; Rector of Exeter (1589) - Robert Abbot, DD, Master of Balliol; afterwards Bishop of Salisbury (1612)
- John PrideauxJohn PrideauxJohn Prideaux D.D. was an English academic and Bishop of Worcester.-Early life:The fourth son of John and Agnes Prideaux, he was born at Stowford House in the parish of Harford, near Ivybridge, Devon, England, on 17 September 1578...
, DD, Rector of Exeter; afterwards Bishop of Worcester (1615) - Robert SandersonRobert SandersonRobert Sanderson was an English theologian and casuist.He was born in Sheffield in Yorkshire and grew up at Gilthwaite Hall, near Rotherham. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford. Entering the Church, he rose to be Bishop of Lincoln.His work on logic, Logicae Artis Compendium , was long a...
, DD, sometime Fellow of Lincoln (1642) - Robert CrosseRobert CrosseRobert Crosse was an English puritan theologian.-Life:He was son of William Crosse of Dunster, Somerset. He entered Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1621, obtained a fellowship in 1627, graduated in arts, and in 1637 proceeded B.D...
, BD, Fellow of Lincoln (1648) - Joshua HoyleJoshua HoyleJoshua Hoyle was a Professor of Divinity at Trinity College, Dublin and Master of University College, Oxford during the Commonwealth of England.-Life:...
, DD, Master of University (1648) - John ConantJohn ConantRev. John Conant D.D. was an English clergyman, theologian, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.-Life:John Conant was born at Yettington, Bicton, in southeast Devon, England, the eldest son of Robert Conant, son of Richard Conant and his wife, Elizabeth Morris...
, DD, Rector of Exeter (1654) - Robert SandersonRobert SandersonRobert Sanderson was an English theologian and casuist.He was born in Sheffield in Yorkshire and grew up at Gilthwaite Hall, near Rotherham. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford. Entering the Church, he rose to be Bishop of Lincoln.His work on logic, Logicae Artis Compendium , was long a...
, DD, restored; afterwards Bishop of Lincoln (1660) - William CreedWilliam CreedWilliam Creed was an English clergyman and academic, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford from 1660.-Life:The son of John Creed, he was a native of Reading, Berkshire. He was elected a scholar of St. John's College, Oxford, in 1631, proceeded B.A., was elected a fellow of his college, commenced...
, DD, sometime Fellow of St John's (1661) - Richard AllestreeRichard AllestreeRichard Allestree or Allestry was a Royalist churchman and provost of Eton College from 1665.-Life:The son of Robert Allestree, descended from an old Derbyshire family, he was born at Uppington in Shropshire. He was educated at Coventry and later at Christ Church, Oxford, under Richard Busby...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church (1663) - William JaneWilliam JaneWilliam Jane was an English academic and clergyman, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford from 1680.-Life:The son of Joseph Jane, he was born at Liskeard, Cornwall, where he was baptised on 22 October 1645. He was educated at Westminster School, elected student of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1660,...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church (1680) - John Potter, DD, Fellow of Lincoln; Bishop of Oxford; afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury (1707)
- George Rye, DD, sometime Fellow of Oriel; Archdeacon of Oxford (1737)
- John Fanshawe, DD, Student of Christ Church, and Regius Professor of Greek (1741)
- Edward Bentham, DD, Canon of Christ Church (1763)
- Benjamin Wheeler, DD, Fellow of Magdalen (1776)
- John RandolphJohn Randolph (bishop)John Randolph was a British scholar, teacher, and cleric who rose to become Bishop of London.-Early life and academic career:...
, DD, Student of Christ Church, Professor of Poetry, and Regius Professor of Greek; Bishop of London; afterwards Bishop of Bangor, then of London (1783) - Charles Henry HallCharles Henry HallCharles Henry Hall was an English churchman and academic, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford and then Dean of Durham.-Life:He was the son of Charles Hall, dean of Bocking, Essex, and uncle of watercolour artist John Frederick Tayler. He was admitted to Westminster School in 1775, was elected Christ...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church; afterwards Dean (1807) - William HowleyWilliam HowleyWilliam Howley was a clergyman in the Church of England. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 to 1848.-Early Life, education, and interests:...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church; afterwards Bishop of London, Archbishop of Canterbury (1809) - William Van MildertWilliam Van MildertWilliam Van Mildert was the last palatine Bishop of Durham , and one of the founders of the University of Durham...
, DD, Queen's; afterwards Bishop of Llandaff and Dean of St Paul's, Bishop of Durham (1813) - Frodsham HodsonFrodsham HodsonFrodsham Hodson was an English churchman and academic, the Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford from 1809.-Life:Hodson was the son of the Rev. George Hodson, and was born in Liverpool, England, on 7 June 1770. He entered Manchester Grammar School in January 1784, and left it in 1787 to go to...
, DD, Principal of Brasenose (1820) - Charles LloydCharles Lloyd (bishop)Charles Lloyd , Regius Professor of Divinity and Bishop of Oxford from 1827 to 1829, was born in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on 26 September 1784, the second son of Thomas Lloyd. Thomas, a 'clergyman and schoolmaster', was Rector of Aston-sub-Edge in Gloucestershire and ran a school at Great...
, Student of Christ Church; Bishop of Oxford (1822) - Edward BurtonEdward Burton (theologian)Edward Burton was an English theologian, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford.-Life:The son of Major Edward Burton, he was born at Shrewsbury on 13 February 1794...
, DD, Student of Christ Church (1829) - Renn Dickson HampdenRenn Dickson HampdenRenn Dickson Hampden , was an English Anglican clergyman whose selection as Bishop of Hereford formed a minor cause celebre in Victorian religious controversies.-Biography:...
, DD, Principal of St Mary Hall; afterwards Bishop of Hereford (1836) - William JacobsonWilliam JacobsonFor the law school professor, see William A. JacobsonFor the Distinguished Service Cross recipient, see William Jacobson ....
, MA, Vice-Principal of Magdalen Hall and Public Orator, sometime Fellow of Exeter; DD, afterwards Bishop of Chester (1848) - Robert Payne Smith, MA, Pembroke; DD; afterwards Dean of Canterbury (1865)
- James Bowling MozleyJames Bowling MozleyJames Bowling Mozley was an English theologian.He was born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the younger brother of Thomas Mozley, and was educated at Oueen Elizabeth's Grammar School and later Oriel College, Oxford.Mozley was elected to a fellowship at Magdalen in 1840...
, BD, sometime Fellow of Magdalen; DD (1871) - William InceWilliam Ince (theologian)William Ince was a British theologian.Ince was educated at King's College School and Lincoln College, Oxford, where he took first-class honours in Literae Humaniores ....
, MA, Fellow of Exeter; DD; Canon of Christ Church (1878) - Henry Scott HollandHenry Scott HollandHenry Scott Holland was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford. He was also a canon of Christ Church, Oxford.-Family and education:...
, MA, Hon DLitt, sometime Student of Christ Church; DD; Canon of Christ Church (1911) - Arthur Cayley HeadlamArthur Cayley HeadlamThe Right Reverend Arthur Cayley Headlam CH was an English theologian who served as Bishop of Gloucester from 1923 to 1945....
, DD, sometime Fellow of All Souls; Canon of Christ Church (1918) - Henry Leighton Goudge, DD, Canon of Christ Church (1923)
- Oliver Chase QuickOliver Chase QuickOliver Chase Quick was an English theologian and Anglican priest.Oliver Quick was educated at Harrow and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and ordained priest in 1912. He was Canon successively of Newcastle , Carlisle , St Paul's , Durham , and Christ Church, 1939-44...
, MA, Canon of Christ Church; afterwards DD (1939) - Leonard HodgsonLeonard HodgsonLeonard Hodgson was an Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, historian of the early Church and Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford from 1944 to 1958.-Early life :...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church (1944) - Henry ChadwickHenry Chadwick (theologian)Henry Chadwick KBE was a British academic and Church of England clergyman. A former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford — and as such also head of Christ Church, Oxford — he also served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, becoming the first person in four centuries to have headed a college at...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church (MusB, DD Camb; Hon DD Glas) (1959) - Maurice WilesMaurice WilesMaurice Frank Wiles was a Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University for 21 years, from 1970 to 1991.-Miracles:...
, DD, Canon of Christ Church (BD, MA Camb) (1970) - Keith WardKeith WardKeith Ward is a British cleric, philosopher, theologian and scholar. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and an ordained priest of the Church of England. He was a canon of Christ Church, Oxford until 2003...
, BLitt, MA, Canon of Christ Church (BA Wales; MA Camb) (1991) - Marilyn McCord AdamsMarilyn McCord AdamsMarilyn McCord Adams is an American philosopher working in philosophy of religion, philosophical theology and medieval philosophy.-Family:Adams is the daughter of William Clark McCord and Wilmah Brown McCord...
, AB Illinois; PhD Cornell; Th M Princeton Theological Seminary; Canon of Christ Church (2004) - Graham WardGraham Ward (theologian)Graham Ward is currently Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics at the University of Manchester, England. His appointment as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford is expected to take effect from 1 October 2012. His letter of appointment had to be re-issued because his...
(Position due to take effect from 1 October 2012)
(Sources: Oxford Historical Register 1200-1900 and supplements; and the Oxford University Calendar)
- See also: Theology Faculty of the University of OxfordTheology Faculty of the University of OxfordThe Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford, co-ordinates the teaching of theology at the University of Oxford, England.The Theology Faculty Centre is at 34 St Giles' in central Oxford.- History :...
Cambridge listing
- Edward Wigan, alias Guy (1540)
- John Madew (c.1545)
- Martin BucerMartin BucerMartin Bucer was a Protestant reformer based in Strasbourg who influenced Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices. Bucer was originally a member of the Dominican Order, but after meeting and being influenced by Martin Luther in 1518 he arranged for his monastic vows to be annulled...
(1550) - John Young (1555)
- Thomas SedgwickThomas SedgwickThomas Sedgwick was an English Roman Catholic theologian. An unfriendly hand in 1562 describes him as "learned but not very wise"....
(1557) - James Pilkington (1559)
- Leonard PilkingtonLeonard PilkingtonLeonard Pilkington was an English academic and clergyman. A Marian exile, he became Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and Master of St John's College, Cambridge at the start of the reign of Elizabeth I...
(1561) - Matthew HuttonMatthew Hutton (Archbishop of York)Matthew Hutton was archbishop of York from 1595 to 1606.-Life:Hutton, the son of Matthew Hutton of Priest Hutton, in the parish of Warton, Lancashire, was born in that parish in 1529. He became a sizar at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1546. Graduating B.A. 1551–2, he became a fellow of Trinity in...
(1562) - John WhitgiftJohn WhitgiftJohn Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen...
(1567) - William ChadertonWilliam ChadertonWilliam Chaderton was an English academic and bishop. He also served as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity.He was born in Moston, Lancashire, what is now a part of the city of Manchester. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1555, and graduated M.A...
(1569) - William WhitakerWilliam Whitaker (theologian)William Whitaker was a prominent Anglican theologian. He was Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, and a leading divine in the university in the latter half of the sixteenth century.-Early life and education:...
(1580) - John OverallJohn Overall (Bishop)John Overall was the 38th bishop of the see of Norwich from 1618 until his death one year later. He had previously served as Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield , as Dean of St Pauls Cathedral from 1601, as Master of Catharine Hall from 1598, and as Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge...
(1596) - John RichardsonJohn Richardson (translator)Doctor John Richardson was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1615 until his death.John Richardson matriculated as a sizar from Clare College, Cambridge in 1578...
(1606) - Samuel CollinsSamuel Collins (theologian)Samuel Collins was an English clergyman and academic, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and Provost of King's College, Cambridge.-Life:...
(1617) - John ArrowsmithJohn Arrowsmith (scholar)John Arrowsmith was an English theologian and academic.-Life:He was born near Gateshead and entered St John's College, Cambridge in 1616. In 1623 he entered the fellowship of St Catherine Hall, Cambridge....
(1651) - Anthony TuckneyAnthony TuckneyAnthony Tuckney was an English Puritan theologian and scholar.-Life:Anthony Tuckney was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and a fellow there from 1619 to 1630...
(1656) - Peter GunningPeter GunningPeter Gunning was an English Royalist church leader, Bishop of Chichester and later of Ely.-Life:He was born at Hoo St Werburgh, in Kent, and educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Clare College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1633. Having taken orders, he advocated the Royalist...
(1661) - Joseph BeaumontJoseph BeaumontJoseph Beaumont was an English clergyman, academic and poet.-Life:The son of John Beaumont, clothier, and of Sarah Clarke, his wife, he was born at Hadleigh, Suffolk, on March 13, 1616. He was educated at Hadleigh grammar school, and proceeded to Cambridge in 1631, where he was admitted as a...
(1674) - Henry James (1700)
- Richard BentleyRichard BentleyRichard Bentley was an English classical scholar, critic, and theologian. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge....
(1717) - John Whalley (1742)
- John GreenJohn Green (bishop)John Green was a British clergyman and academic.Green was born at Beverley in Yorkshire in 1706.Having been schooled in his home town, he was admitted to St John’s College, Cambridge in 1724. Green graduated B.A. in 1728 and was awarded a fellowship in 1730.Green joined the priesthood in 1731 and...
(1749) - Thomas RutherforthThomas RutherforthThomas Rutherforth was an English churchman and academic, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge from 1745, and Archdeacon of Essex from 1752.-Life:...
(1756) - Richard WatsonRichard Watson (bishop)Rt Rev Richard Watson was an Anglican clergyman and academic, who served as the Bishop of Llandaff from 1782 to 1816. He wrote some notable political pamphlets....
(1771) - John RandolphJohn Randolph (bishop)John Randolph was a British scholar, teacher, and cleric who rose to become Bishop of London.-Early life and academic career:...
(1783-1807) - John KayeJohn Kaye (English bishop)Bishop John Kaye was an English churchman.-Life:He was born the only son of Abraham Kaye in Hammersmith, London and educated at the school of Sir Charles Burney in Hammersmith and then Greenwich. He entered Christ's College, Cambridge and graduated Senior wrangler in 1804...
(1816) - Thomas TurtonThomas TurtonThomas Turton, DD was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He was Dean of Peterborough, Bishop of Ely and composer of Anglican hymns....
(1827) - Alfred OllivantAlfred OllivantAlfred Ollivant was an academic who went on to become bishop of Llandaff.Born in Manchester, he was educated at St Paul's School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He won the Tyrwhitt Hebrew scholarship in 1822 and was elected to a fellowship at Trinity College. In 1827, he was appointed the first...
(1843) - James Amiraux JeremieJames Amiraux JeremieJames Amiraux Jeremie was Professor of Classical Literature at The East India Company College 1830-50, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge from 1850, and Dean of Lincoln....
(1850) - Brooke Foss WestcottBrooke Foss WestcottBrooke Foss Westcott was a British bishop, Biblical scholar and theologian, serving as Bishop of Durham from 1890 until his death.-Early life and education:...
(1870) - Henry Barclay SweteHenry Barclay SweteHenry Barclay Swete was an English Biblical scholar. He became Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge in 1890. He is known for his 1906 commentary on the Book of Revelation, and other works of exegesis....
(1890) - Vincent Henry Stanton (1916)
- Alexander Nairne (1922)
- Charles Earle Raven (1932)
- Arthur Michael Ramsey (1950)
- John Burnaby (1952)
- Edward Craddock Ratcliffe (1958)
- Dennis Eric Nineham (1964)
- Geoffrey Hugo LampeGeoffrey Hugo LampeGeoffrey William Hugo Lampe MC was a British theologian and Anglican Priest who dedicated his life to theological teaching and research and was Ely Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge from 1960 to 1970 and Regius Professor from 1970 until his retirement in 1979...
(1971) - Henry ChadwickHenry Chadwick (theologian)Henry Chadwick KBE was a British academic and Church of England clergyman. A former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford — and as such also head of Christ Church, Oxford — he also served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, becoming the first person in four centuries to have headed a college at...
(1979) - Stephen Whitefield Sykes (1985)
- David Frank FordDavid F. FordDavid Frank Ford is an academic and public theologian. He has been the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge since 1991...
(1991)