Christopher Maude Chavasse
Encyclopedia
Christopher Maude Chavasse OBE
MC
ED
(9 November 1884 – 10 March 1962) was a British athlete, soldier, and religious leader. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London, served in the First World War, and was later Bishop of Rochester
.
and founder of St Peter's College, Oxford
and his wife Ethel Maude. His twin brother, Noel Godfrey Chavasse
, won the Victoria Cross
and bar. Christopher was the elder of the two by 20 minutes. The twins had two other brothers and three sisters.
Both Christopher and Noel Chavasse attended Trinity College, Oxford
, competing in both rugby and athletics. They competed on the British team at the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London: Christopher came second in his preliminary heat of the 400 metres
shortly after Noel came third in his heat of the same event. Neither advanced to the semi-finals.
All four of the Chavasse brothers (Christopher, Noel, Aidan, and Bernard) served during the First World War. Christopher was a chaplain
; Noel and Bernard served as medic
s. Aidan was wounded and went missing during a raid; the other three brothers each earned the Military Cross
. Noel also became one of only three men to receive the Victoria Cross
twice, the second posthumously. Christopher was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
in the Military Division. He and Bernard survived the war.
Christopher's other decorations included the 1914 Star
with clasp, the British War Medal
, the Victory Medal
, and the Croix de guerre
.
. He was nominated Bishop of Rochester
on 19 March 1940, consecrated on 25 April the same year, and served in that position until his resignation on 30 September 1960.
In 1948, a sermon given by Chavasse about Belshazzar's Feast
was featured as a religious short film
produced by J. Arthur Rank
.
In 1943 Chavasse was chairman of the Archbishops' Commission on Evangelism which published the controversial report Towards the conversion of England. In accordance with his hope for mass evangelisation, in 1955 Chavasse supported the Crusade of Billy Graham
at Harringay Arena.
He served as the first Master
of St Peter's College, Oxford
upon its founding in 1929 by his father. He also served briefly as an original Trustee of the college upon its incorporation in 1961.
Chavasse married Beatrice Willbank shortly after the war, in July 1919. They had three sons: Noel, their eldest son named in honour of his uncle Noel Godfrey Chavasse
, Michael and John, and a daughter, Anna.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(9 November 1884 – 10 March 1962) was a British athlete, soldier, and religious leader. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London, served in the First World War, and was later Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
.
Pre-war
Chavasse was the son of Francis Chavasse, Bishop of LiverpoolBishop of Liverpool
The Bishop of Liverpool is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool in the Province of York.The diocese stretches from Southport in the north, to Widnes in the south, and from the River Mersey to Wigan in the east. Its see is in the City of Liverpool at the Cathedral Church of...
and founder of St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
and his wife Ethel Maude. His twin brother, Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar, MC was a British medical doctor and British Army officer who is one of only three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice....
, won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and bar. Christopher was the elder of the two by 20 minutes. The twins had two other brothers and three sisters.
Both Christopher and Noel Chavasse attended Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, competing in both rugby and athletics. They competed on the British team at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London: Christopher came second in his preliminary heat of the 400 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres was an Olympic event for the fourth time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held originally scheduled from July 21, 1908 to July 23, 1908. The rerun of the final was held on July 25, 1908...
shortly after Noel came third in his heat of the same event. Neither advanced to the semi-finals.
World War I
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
; Noel and Bernard served as medic
Medic
Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency...
s. Aidan was wounded and went missing during a raid; the other three brothers each earned the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. Noel also became one of only three men to receive the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
twice, the second posthumously. Christopher was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the Military Division. He and Bernard survived the war.
Christopher's other decorations included the 1914 Star
1914 Star
The 1914 Star was a British Empire campaign medal for service in World War I.The 1914 Star was approved in 1917, for issue to officers and men of British forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight 22/23 November 1914...
with clasp, the British War Medal
British War Medal
The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
, the Victory Medal
Victory Medal (United Kingdom)
The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at...
, and the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
Post-war
After the First World War, Chavasse rose through the ranks of the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He was nominated Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
on 19 March 1940, consecrated on 25 April the same year, and served in that position until his resignation on 30 September 1960.
In 1948, a sermon given by Chavasse about Belshazzar's Feast
Belshazzar's Feast
Belshazzar's Feast is described in the Book of Daniel. The Babylonian king Belshazzar profanes the sacred vessels of the enslaved Israelites. As prophesied by the writing on the wall, and interpreted by Daniel, Belshazzar is killed and Darius the Mede succeeds to his kingdom.There are many...
was featured as a religious short film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
produced by J. Arthur Rank
J. Arthur Rank
Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc.- Family business :...
.
In 1943 Chavasse was chairman of the Archbishops' Commission on Evangelism which published the controversial report Towards the conversion of England. In accordance with his hope for mass evangelisation, in 1955 Chavasse supported the Crusade of Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
at Harringay Arena.
He served as the first Master
Master (college)
A Master is the title of the head of some colleges and other educational institutions. This applies especially at some colleges and institutions at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge .- See also :* Master A Master (or in female form Mistress) is the title of the head of some...
of St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
upon its founding in 1929 by his father. He also served briefly as an original Trustee of the college upon its incorporation in 1961.
Chavasse married Beatrice Willbank shortly after the war, in July 1919. They had three sons: Noel, their eldest son named in honour of his uncle Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar, MC was a British medical doctor and British Army officer who is one of only three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice....
, Michael and John, and a daughter, Anna.