Author

Jones, Frederick

Material Type

Journal Article

Journal

Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society

Date

1973 March

Volume

15

Issue

1

Page

[2]-14

Notes

A description of the life and career of Edward Field in England before his appointment in 1844 as the second bishop of Newfoundland. Field was a Highchurchman who had distinguished himself in two poor parishes: Kidlington and Bicknor English. Field was also a great believer in education and established day schools in both parishes that were widely admired and copied, leading to his employment as the first Inspector of Schools hired by the National Society for the diocese of Salisbury. "Field accepted the offer of the See of Newfoundland. Like Short of Adelaide and Medley of Fredericton, he was one of the high church appointments of the 1840's. Like them he yielded to the persuasive powers of [Archbishop of Canterbury William] Howley and [Charles] Blomfield [Bishop of London]. Presumably Newfoundland was presented to him as a challenge to which he was particularly fitted to respond. The problems which he had faced at Kidlington and Bicknor, poverty, ignorance, and drunkenness, were no less the problems of Newfoundland. Unlike some Tractarians of the eighteen-thirties and forties, Field was concerned with social problems. He was a paternalist of the Tory type, like Phillpotts of Exeter. Newfoundland needed churches, it had a formidable education problem, it was known for turbulence. Field was renowned as an educationist and church builder, and had withstood the rioters of Kidlington. When appealed to as a builder, an organiser, a teacher, and a paternalist, he was obliged to accept. When Blomfield argued that Field's life so far had been a preparation for Newfoundland, then Field, even if reluctant because of opportunities in England, felt bound to go" (p. 10).

"The Rev. Frederick Jones, an honours graduate in Modern History with Economics and Politics of the University of Manchester, studied Theology at St. Stephen's House, Oxford, and obtained his doctorate at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Formerly a lecturer at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, he is now lecturing in history at the Bournemouth College of Technology" (p. [2]).

Subjects

Feild, Edward, 1801-1876

Anglican Church of Canada. Diocese of Newfoundland - Bishops - Biography

Church and social problems - Church of England - History - 19th century

Education - Religious aspects - Church of England

Education - Great Britain - History - 19th century

Location

General Synod Archives

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