Charles Silvester Horne
Encyclopedia
Charles Silvester Horne was a famous late 19th century and early 20th century Congregationalist who additionally served as Liberal
M.P.
for Ipswich
.. He was also the father of the humorous broadcaster, Kenneth Horne
, Sussex
on 15 April 1865, the youngest child of Charles Horne, the minister of Cuckfield Congregational Church, and his wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Silvester. When he was still an infant, the family moved to Newport, Shropshire. Here Charles Horne gave up the ministry, becoming the editor of the local newspaper, the Newport Advertiser and became a partner of his wife's uncle, Charles Silvester in a printing and bookselling firm. Horne lived the rest of his childhood in the town, and was educated at Adams Grammar School, where his headmaster was a Mr. Tom Collins. His father's newspaper was very much a family business, and every member of the family helped with it at some point. The family at this time attended the Newport Congregational Chapel, which is described by Horne's biographer as "The most considerable Nonconformist place of worship in the town." It was through this church that Horne first began to preach, and his thoughts turned towards the Congregational ministry.
from Glasgow University in 1886 and subsequently studied Theology
at Mansfield College, Oxford
, where he was in the first intake of students at the new Congregational college, before beginning his working life as Minister of Kensington Chapel. During this period he married Katharine, the eldest daughter of Lord Cozens Hardy
, Master of the Rolls
from 1907 until 1918.
, writing hymns which are still sung today . From 1910 until his death he had a national platform for his views as an MP. In 1914, returning from New York, he was taken ill suddenly and died. Tributes poured in. His wife and children were to outlive him by over half a century, his youngest daughter living until 1984. One of his grandchildren, Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon
was Bishop of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.
with whom he had seven children:
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Ipswich
Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
.. He was also the father of the humorous broadcaster, Kenneth Horne
Kenneth Horne
Kenneth Horne was an English comedian and businessman. The son of a clergyman and politician, he combined a successful business career with regular broadcasting for the BBC. His first hit series Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh written with his co-star Richard Murdoch arose out of his wartime service as...
Childhood
He was born in CuckfieldCuckfield
Cuckfield is a large village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England, on the southern slopes of the Weald. It lies south of London, north of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester. Nearby towns include Haywards Heath to the southeast and Burgess...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
on 15 April 1865, the youngest child of Charles Horne, the minister of Cuckfield Congregational Church, and his wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Silvester. When he was still an infant, the family moved to Newport, Shropshire. Here Charles Horne gave up the ministry, becoming the editor of the local newspaper, the Newport Advertiser and became a partner of his wife's uncle, Charles Silvester in a printing and bookselling firm. Horne lived the rest of his childhood in the town, and was educated at Adams Grammar School, where his headmaster was a Mr. Tom Collins. His father's newspaper was very much a family business, and every member of the family helped with it at some point. The family at this time attended the Newport Congregational Chapel, which is described by Horne's biographer as "The most considerable Nonconformist place of worship in the town." It was through this church that Horne first began to preach, and his thoughts turned towards the Congregational ministry.
Early adult years
He graduated MAMaster of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
from Glasgow University in 1886 and subsequently studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
, where he was in the first intake of students at the new Congregational college, before beginning his working life as Minister of Kensington Chapel. During this period he married Katharine, the eldest daughter of Lord Cozens Hardy
Herbert Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy
Herbert Hardy Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy was a British politician and Master of the Rolls from 1907 until 1918.-Early life:...
, Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
from 1907 until 1918.
Fame grows
His fame as a preacher and author grew after he took over the Whitefield's Church, Tottenham Court RoadTottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London, United Kingdom, running from St Giles Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
, writing hymns which are still sung today . From 1910 until his death he had a national platform for his views as an MP. In 1914, returning from New York, he was taken ill suddenly and died. Tributes poured in. His wife and children were to outlive him by over half a century, his youngest daughter living until 1984. One of his grandchildren, Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon
Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon
Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon was, amongst other Episcopal appointments, the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.-Early years:...
was Bishop of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.
Family
He married Katharine Cozens-Hardy, daughter of Herbert Cozens-HardyHerbert Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy
Herbert Hardy Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy was a British politician and Master of the Rolls from 1907 until 1918.-Early life:...
with whom he had seven children:
- Oliver
- Dorothy (1893–1958), married Sir Archibald Gordon. Mother of Archibald Ronald McDonald GordonArchibald Ronald McDonald GordonArchibald Ronald McDonald Gordon was, amongst other Episcopal appointments, the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.-Early years:...
- Bridget
- Joan
- Ronald (1902 - ?)
- Ruth (1904 - ?)
- Charles KennethKenneth HorneKenneth Horne was an English comedian and businessman. The son of a clergyman and politician, he combined a successful business career with regular broadcasting for the BBC. His first hit series Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh written with his co-star Richard Murdoch arose out of his wartime service as...
(1907–1969)