Francis James Chavasse, (1846–1928)

Francis James Chavasse, (1846–1928), bishop of Liverpool, was born on 27 September 1846 at Sutton Coldfield, the eldest son of Thomas Chavasse FRCS, and his second wife, Miriam Sarah Wyld. As a child he was sent to Chesterfield grammar school, and following a long illness, and after private tuition entered Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He took his degree with a first class in the final school of law and modern history in 1869 and MA in 1872. He was ordained at Manchester in 1870 and, after holding a curacy (1870–73) at St Paul's, Preston, became vicar of St Paul's, Upper Holloway (1873–7) and rector of St Peter-le-Bailey, Oxford (1877–89). There the success of his Greek Testament readings for undergraduates and his widespread influence led to his being appointed principal of Wycliffe Hall in 1889. On the retirement of Bishop John Charles Ryle in 1900, Chavasse was nominated by Lord Salisbury to the see of Liverpool, and spent twenty-three years in that diocese.



Read more...