Alexander Penrose Forbes
Encyclopedia
Alexander Penrose Forbes (June 16, 1817 – October 8, 1875), Scottish
divine, was born at Edinburgh
.
He was the second son of John Hay Forbes
, Lord Medwyn, a judge of the court of session, and grandson of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo. He studied first at the Edinburgh Academy
, then for two years under the Rev. Thomas Dale
. the poet, in Kent
, passed one session at Glasgow University in 1831 and, having chosen the career of the Indian civil service, completed his studies with distinction at Haileybury College. In 1836 he went to Madras and secured early promotion, but in consequence of ill-health he was obliged to return to England
. He then entered Brasenose College, Oxford
, where in 1841 he, obtained the Boden Sanskrit
scholarship, and graduated in 1844.
He was at Oxford during the early years of the movement known as Tractarianism, and was powerfully influenced by association with Newman, Pusey
and Keble
. This led him to resign his Indian appointment. In 1844 he was ordained deacon
and priest in the Church of England, and held curacies at Aston, Rowant and St Thomas's, Oxford
; but being naturally attracted to the Episcopal Church of his native land
, then recovering from long depression, he removed in 1846 to Stonehaven
, the chief town of Kincardineshire
. The same year, however, he was appointed to the vicarage of St Saviours, Leeds, a church founded to preach and illustrate Tractarian principles.
On October 28, 1847 Forbes was consecrated to succeed Bishop Moir in the see of Brechin; He removed the episcopal residence to Dundee
, where he resided till his death, combining the pastoral charge of the congregation with the duties of the see. When he came to Dundee the churchmen were accustomed owing to their small numbers to worship in a room over a bank. Through his energy several churches were built, and among them the pro-cathedral of St Paul's
.
He was prosecuted in the church courts for heresy
, the accusation being founded on his primary charge, delivered and published in 1857, fit which he set forth his views on the Eucharist
. He made a powerful defence of the charge, and was acquitted with a censure and an admonition. Keble wrote in his defence, and was present at his trial at Edinburgh. Forbes was a good scholar, a scientific theologian and a devoted worker, and was much beloved. He died at Dundee on the 8th of October 1875.
Bishop Forbes' correspondence is held by Archive Services at the University of Dundee
as part of the Brechin Diocesan Library Manuscripts Collection.
Principal works:
See Mackey's Bishop Forbes, a Memoir.
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Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
divine, was born at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
He was the second son of John Hay Forbes
John Hay Forbes
John Hay Forbes, Lord Medwyn was a Scottish judge.-Life:Forbes was the second son of Sir William Forbes, 6th Baronet, and was born at Edinburgh. He was admitted advocate in 1799, was for some time sheriff-depute of Perthshire, and was made lord of session in January 1825, when he assumed the...
, Lord Medwyn, a judge of the court of session, and grandson of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo. He studied first at the Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
, then for two years under the Rev. Thomas Dale
Thomas Dale
Sir Thomas Dale was an English naval commander and deputy-governor of the Virginia Colony in 1611 and from 1614 to 1616. Governor Dale is best remembered for the energy and the extreme rigour of his administration in Virginia, which established order and in various ways seems to have benefited the...
. the poet, in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, passed one session at Glasgow University in 1831 and, having chosen the career of the Indian civil service, completed his studies with distinction at Haileybury College. In 1836 he went to Madras and secured early promotion, but in consequence of ill-health he was obliged to return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He then entered Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, where in 1841 he, obtained the Boden Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholarship, and graduated in 1844.
He was at Oxford during the early years of the movement known as Tractarianism, and was powerfully influenced by association with Newman, Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
and Keble
John Keble
John Keble was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, and gave his name to Keble College, Oxford.-Early life:...
. This led him to resign his Indian appointment. In 1844 he was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest in the Church of England, and held curacies at Aston, Rowant and St Thomas's, Oxford
St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Oxford
St Thomas the Martyr's is a Church of England church of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, in Oxford, England, near Oxford railway station in Osney. The church was founded in the 12th century, dedicated to St Thomas Becket...
; but being naturally attracted to the Episcopal Church of his native land
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, then recovering from long depression, he removed in 1846 to Stonehaven
Stonehaven
Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...
, the chief town of Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
. The same year, however, he was appointed to the vicarage of St Saviours, Leeds, a church founded to preach and illustrate Tractarian principles.
On October 28, 1847 Forbes was consecrated to succeed Bishop Moir in the see of Brechin; He removed the episcopal residence to Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, where he resided till his death, combining the pastoral charge of the congregation with the duties of the see. When he came to Dundee the churchmen were accustomed owing to their small numbers to worship in a room over a bank. Through his energy several churches were built, and among them the pro-cathedral of St Paul's
St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Dundee, Scotland. It is the Cathedral and administrative centre of the Diocese of Brechin in the Scottish Episcopal Church.-Castle:...
.
He was prosecuted in the church courts for heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
, the accusation being founded on his primary charge, delivered and published in 1857, fit which he set forth his views on the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. He made a powerful defence of the charge, and was acquitted with a censure and an admonition. Keble wrote in his defence, and was present at his trial at Edinburgh. Forbes was a good scholar, a scientific theologian and a devoted worker, and was much beloved. He died at Dundee on the 8th of October 1875.
Bishop Forbes' correspondence is held by Archive Services at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
as part of the Brechin Diocesan Library Manuscripts Collection.
Principal works:
- A Short Explanation of the Nicene CreedNicene CreedThe Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
(1852) - An Explanation of the Thirty-nine ArticlesThirty-Nine ArticlesThe Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines of the Anglican church with respect to the controversies of the English Reformation. First established in 1563, the articles served to define the doctrine of the nascent Church of England as it related to...
(2 vols, 1867 and 1868) - Commentary on the Seven Penitential Psalms (1847)
- Commentary on the Canticles (1853)
See Mackey's Bishop Forbes, a Memoir.
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