Edward Copleston
Encyclopedia
Edward Copleston was an English churchman and academic, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford from 1814 and bishop of Llandaff
from 1827.
in Devon
, and educated at Oxford University.
He was elected to a tutorship at Oriel College in 1797, and in 1800 was appointed to St Mary Hall, Oxford
. As Oxford Professor of Poetry
(1802–1812) he gained a reputation by his literary criticism and sound latinity.
After holding the office of dean
at Oriel for some years, he succeeded to the provostship in 1814, and owing largely to his influence the college reached a remarkable degree of prosperity during the first quarter of the 19th century. He was thus influential in the choice of Fellows who were in due course to become prominent during the Oxford Movement
, though he himself was of a more rationalist
cast of mind and belonged to a group of so-called 'Noetics'.
In 1826 he was appointed dean of Chester, and in the next year he was consecrated bishop of Llandaff. Here he gave his support to the new movement for church restoration in Wales
, and during his occupation of the see more than twenty new churches were built in the diocese. The political problems of the time interested him greatly, and his writings include two letters to Sir Robert Peel
, one dealing with the 'Variable Standard of Value', the other with the 'Increase of Pauperism' (Oxford, 1819). The palace of the Bishops of Llandaff (at Mathern
, Monmouthshire
) had been sold so Coplestone resided occasionally at Llandough Castle near Cowbridge and passed his later life between the Deanery of St.Paul's
and Hardwick House in Chepstow
, where he died.
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
from 1827.
Life
He was born at OffwellOffwell
Offwell is a village and civil parish in East Devon in the English county of Devon, approximately 2 miles south-east from the nearest town Honiton. Offwell can be accessed by the nearby A35 Road....
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and educated at Oxford University.
He was elected to a tutorship at Oriel College in 1797, and in 1800 was appointed to St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall was an academic hall of the University of Oxford associated with Oriel College since 1326, but which functioned independently from 1545 to 1902.- History :...
. As Oxford Professor of Poetry
Oxford Professor of Poetry
The chair of Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is an unusual academic appointment, now held for a term of five years, and chosen through an election open to all members of Convocation, namely, all graduates and current academics of the university; in 2010, on-line voting was allowed....
(1802–1812) he gained a reputation by his literary criticism and sound latinity.
After holding the office of dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at Oriel for some years, he succeeded to the provostship in 1814, and owing largely to his influence the college reached a remarkable degree of prosperity during the first quarter of the 19th century. He was thus influential in the choice of Fellows who were in due course to become prominent during the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, though he himself was of a more rationalist
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
cast of mind and belonged to a group of so-called 'Noetics'.
In 1826 he was appointed dean of Chester, and in the next year he was consecrated bishop of Llandaff. Here he gave his support to the new movement for church restoration in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and during his occupation of the see more than twenty new churches were built in the diocese. The political problems of the time interested him greatly, and his writings include two letters to Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
, one dealing with the 'Variable Standard of Value', the other with the 'Increase of Pauperism' (Oxford, 1819). The palace of the Bishops of Llandaff (at Mathern
Mathern
Mathern is a historic village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, about 5 km south west of the town of Chepstow, close to the Severn estuary, the Bristol Channel and the M48 motorway. The village is designated as a Conservation Area...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
) had been sold so Coplestone resided occasionally at Llandough Castle near Cowbridge and passed his later life between the Deanery of St.Paul's
Dean of St Paul's
The Dean of St Paul's is the head of the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London, England in the Church of England. The most recent Dean, Graeme Knowles, formerly Bishop of Sodor and Man, was installed on 1 October 2007 and resigned on 31 October 2011...
and Hardwick House in Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, where he died.