Edmund Ffoulkes
Encyclopedia
Edmund Salisbury Ffoulkes (1819 or 1820 – 19 April 1894) was a British
clergyman who converted from Anglicanism
to Catholicism
and back again in the 19th century.
and Jesus College, Oxford
. His uncle, Henry Foulkes
was principal of the college from 1817 to 1857. He obtained a second-class degree in Literae Humaniores
in 1841. He became a Fellow of Jesus College in 1843, holding this position until 1855. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
and also served for a time as the college's Junior Bursar. He joined the Roman Catholic Church
in 1855. However, after fifteen years in the Catholic Church, he applied to his Bishop, Samuel Wilberforce
, to be reinstated as a clergyman in the Church of England, and his request was granted. Jesus College appointed him as rector of Wigginton, Oxfordshire
in 1876. When the position of vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin
in Oxford became vacant in 1878, no Fellow of Oriel College
wished to accept the appointment and the position was then offered to Ffoulkes, who had previously assisted at services.
Ffoulkes wrote several theological works, including Christendom's Divisions, The Church's Creed or the Crown's Creed, and The Primitive Consecration of the Eucharistic Oblation. His final work was The History of St. Mary the Virgin. He also lectured in Divinity to the non-collegiate students at Oxford.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
clergyman who converted from Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and back again in the 19th century.
Biography
Ffoulkes was educated at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. His uncle, Henry Foulkes
Henry Foulkes
Henry Foulkes of North Wales was Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1817 to his death. He holds the record for the long-serving Principal of the college....
was principal of the college from 1817 to 1857. He obtained a second-class degree in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1841. He became a Fellow of Jesus College in 1843, holding this position until 1855. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
Church 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...
and also served for a time as the college's Junior Bursar. He joined the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1855. However, after fifteen years in the Catholic Church, he applied to his Bishop, Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
, to be reinstated as a clergyman in the Church of England, and his request was granted. Jesus College appointed him as rector of Wigginton, Oxfordshire
Wigginton, Oxfordshire
Wigginton is a village and civil parish about southwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire.Remains of a large Roman villa have been found in the village about southwest of the parish church....
in 1876. When the position of vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew...
in Oxford became vacant in 1878, no Fellow of Oriel College
Oriel College
Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford...
wished to accept the appointment and the position was then offered to Ffoulkes, who had previously assisted at services.
Ffoulkes wrote several theological works, including Christendom's Divisions, The Church's Creed or the Crown's Creed, and The Primitive Consecration of the Eucharistic Oblation. His final work was The History of St. Mary the Virgin. He also lectured in Divinity to the non-collegiate students at Oxford.