William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury
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| William Temple | |
|---|---|
|
Archbishop of Canterbury | |
| Enthroned | 1942 |
| Ended | 26 October 1944 |
| Predecessor | Cosmo Lang |
| Successor | Geoffrey Fisher |
| Born | 15 October 1881 Exeter, England |
| Died | 26 October 1944 Westgate-on-Sea, Kent |
| Buried | Canterbury Cathedral |
| Anglicanism Portal |
William Temple (15 October 1881 – 26 October 1944) was a priest in the Church of England. He would serve as Bishop of Manchester, Archbishop of York, and Archbishop of Canterbury (1942–1944).
[edit] Life
Temple was the second son of Archbishop Frederick Temple (1821-1902). He was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he obtained a double first in classics. He was a fellow and lecturer in Philosphy at Queen's College, Oxford from 1904-10, and was ordained priest in 1909. Between 1910 and 1914 he was Headmaster of Repton School after which he returned to being a full time clergyman, becoming Bishop of Manchester in 1921 and Archbishop of York in 1929. In 1932-1933, he gave the Gifford Lectures.
A renowned teacher and preacher, Temple is perhaps best known for his 1942 book Christianity and Social Order, which set out an Anglican social theology and a vision for what would constitute a just post-war society. Also in 1942, with Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz, Temple jointly founded the Council of Christians and Jews to combat anti-Jewish bigotry.
Temple defended the working-class movement and supported economic and social reforms. As the first President (1908-1924) of the Workers' Educational Association he joined the Labour Party. He also participated in the ecumenical movement, took part in the Lausanne Conference of 1927, and helped prepare the World Conference of Churches in Edinburgh, 1937.
One of his more famous sayings (though it's hard to pin down a source) is that,
| “ | The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members. | ” |
He is also the author of the quote:
| “ | Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.
It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable. | ” |
[edit] Works
Books by Temple include 'Church and Nation' (1915), 'Personal Religion and the Life of Fellowship' (1926), 'Christianity and the State' (1928), 'Nature, Man and God' (1934), 'Men Without Work' (1938), 'Christianity and the Social Order' (1942) and 'The Church Looks Forward' (1944). Perhaps his most enduring work, however, is his commentary 'Readings in St. John's Gospel' (1945/1952/1985), recently back in print. Both the introduction and the commentary itself remain timeless in assisting others to probe the depths of the fourth gospel's proclamation and mysticism.
[edit] Death and Legacy
William Temple died at Westgate-on-Sea, Kent on 26th October, 1944. He was cremated at Charing Crematorium, Kent. Dr. Temple was the first Primate of All England to be cremated and his cremation had an immense effect upon the opinion of church people not only in this country, but also throughout the whole Anglican community. His ashes are buried on the south side of Corona at his cathedral. Temple is regarded by some as the most brilliant Archbishop of Canterbury since St. Anselm of Canterbury in the late 11th and early 12th century. Anglicans around the world celebrate his feast day on October 26th.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cosmo Lang | Archbishop of York 1928 – 1942 | Succeeded by Cyril Forster Garbett |
| Archbishop of Canterbury 1942 – 1944 | Succeeded by Geoffrey Fisher | |
it:William Temple
