RICHMOND:
database file source="h:/!Genuki/RecordTranscriptions/NRY/RichmondGuide.txt"
Robinson's Guide to Richmond (1833)
Part 25
Appendix IV.
Appendix IV.
ARCHDEACON BLACKBURNE.
THE celebrated author of the Confessional, was born at Richmond,
9th of June, 1705. At the age of seventeen he was admitted a pensioner
of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, where his peculiar notions on civil
and religious liberty rendered him obnoxious to his superiors,
and occasioned the loss of a fellowship for which he was a candidate.
In 1739, he was ordained, and in a short time afterwards was inducted
to the living of Richmond, where he resided constantly for forty
years, during which he composed all the pieces contained in his
works. In July, 1750, he was collated to the Archdeaconry of Cleveland;
and in August following, to the Prebend of Bilton, by Dr. Matthew
Hutton, Archbishop of York, to whom he had been for some years
titular chaplain. His Confessional came out in the spring of 1766,
and was the commencement of a controversy which continued until
about 1772, and gave rise to 70 or 80 pamphlets. One singular
effect followed the first publication of the Confessional. It
was supposed that the author of such a work could not possibly
remain in the church after having made so many objections to her
constitution; and, accordingly, a congregation of dissenters in
London, sent a deputation to him, to know whether he was inclined
to accept the situation of their pastor. This, however, was refused.
Although he abstained from any open opposition to the principles
and conduct of Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Disney, (both his relations
and friends) it is said that he did not approve of either. On
the secession of Dr. Disney from the church, a circumstance which
appears to have given him great uneasiness, he went so far as
to draw up a paper, under the title of "An answer to the
question, Why are you not a Socinian?" but this, although
now added to his works, was not published in his life time. He
had been suspected, from his relationship and intimacy with Dr.
Disney and Mr. Lindsey, of holding the same sentiments with them,
and his object in the above paper, was to vindicate his character
in that respect. Still as it did not appear in his life time,
it could not answer that purpose. However, we are now told, that
some time before his death, he explicitly asserted to his relative,
the Rev. Mr. Comber, his belief in the divinity of Christ. He
died August 7th, 1787, in his 83rd year. (Biographical Dictionary.)
THE
REV.
ANTONY
TEMPLE, Was born
at Craike, in Yorkshire, January 30th, 1723-4. He was educated
at Coxwold school, and from thence sent to Sidney College, Cambridge,
where he proceeded B.A. in 1745, and in 1770, took the degree
of M.A. In 1750, he was elected master of the Free Grammar School
at Richmond, which he held till his death. The testimonials to
his character and abilities, produced by him as candidate on that
occasion, favourable as they were in an extraordinary degree,
were abundantly realised by the most honourable discharge of the
duties of that important station for 45 years. He died April 30th,
1795, in the 72nd year of his age. 'Though an uninterrupted state
of ill health had long confined him to his house, he did not remit
the most painful and assiduous attention to the duties of an office
for which none was ever better qualified. One distinguishing feature
of his character commands our applause. A generous patron and
encourager of learning, he took under his protection poor scholars,
for whom, as well by his own liberality, as by a prudent and successful
application to the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood, or
to his friends at Cambridge, he procured the advantages of academical
instruction. Many of these might be named, who are now an honor
to the place of their education, an ornament to the republic of
letters, and a blessing to society." (Gentleman Magazine,
vol. LXV, p. 442.)
The first station which he held in the church, after his quitting
Cambridge, was the curacy of Kilburne, in the north riding. He
was afterwards for some time lecturer of Royston, in Hertfordshire;
but the only ecclesiastical preferment which he possessed, was
the vicarage of Easby, near Richmond, to which he was presented
in 1770.
In 1766, he published a visitation Sermon, preached at Richmond
in that year, which was followed by the publication of various
other sermons and controversial pamphlets.
This short notice of Mr. Temple's Valuable life, is extracted
from the first volume of Nichols's Illustrations of the Literary
History of the eighteenth century.
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Robinson's Guide to Richmond (1833)
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