John Bampton
Encyclopedia
John Bampton was an English
churchman
, for some time canon
of Salisbury.
, where he graduated M.A. in 1712. He became rector of Stratford Tony
in Wiltshire.
, which directs that eight lectures shall be delivered annually at Oxford
in the University Church on as many Sunday mornings in full term, "between the commencement of the last month in Lent
term and the end of the third week in Act term, upon either of the following subjects: to confirm and establish the Christian faith, and to confute all heretics and schismatics; upon the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures; upon the authority of the writings of the primitive fathers, as to the faith and practice of the primitive Church; upon the divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; upon the divinity of the Holy Ghost; upon the articles of the Christian faith as comprehended in the Apostles and Nicene Creed
s."
The lecturer, who must be at least a Master of Arts of Oxford
or Cambridge
, was formerly chosen yearly by the heads of colleges, on the fourth Tuesday in Easter
term, and no one can be chosen a second time. The Bampton Lectures
, as they are known, began in 1780, and are still held, but have been biennial since 1901. The lectures have to be published within two months of their delivery.
, Downton, and Britford
. Jacob Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone wished to purchase it, for his estate at Longford Castle
which is just north-east of Nunton. Bampton was unwilling to sell, a dispute arose, and to put the land beyond Folkestone's reach, Bampton left it to the University of Oxford; which took possession around 1778 after his wife had died. Eventually Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 2nd Earl of Radnor
, Folkestone's grandson, made an exchange in 1805 with the University of Nunton Farm for the Tinkersole estate at Wing, Buckinghamshire
, backed by a private Act of Parliament.
and taking place in Salisbury Cathedral
.
Sarum Lecturers at Oxford
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...
churchman
Churchman
Typically refers to a member of the clergy. It may also refer to:*English Churchman, a family Protestant newspaper that was founded in 1843*Churchman , theological journal, formerly known as The Churchman...
, for some time canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Salisbury.
Biography
Bampton was a member of Trinity College, OxfordTrinity 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,...
, where he graduated M.A. in 1712. He became rector of Stratford Tony
Stratford Tony
Stratford Tony, also spelt Stratford Toney, formerly known as Stratford St Anthony and Toney Stratford, is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England...
in Wiltshire.
Will establishing lectures
He is now remembered chiefly because of the contents of his willWill (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
, which directs that eight lectures shall be delivered annually at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in the University Church on as many Sunday mornings in full term, "between the commencement of the last month in Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
term and the end of the third week in Act term, upon either of the following subjects: to confirm and establish the Christian faith, and to confute all heretics and schismatics; upon the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures; upon the authority of the writings of the primitive fathers, as to the faith and practice of the primitive Church; upon the divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; upon the divinity of the Holy Ghost; upon the articles of the Christian faith as comprehended in the Apostles and Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The 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...
s."
The lecturer, who must be at least a Master of Arts of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
or Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, was formerly chosen yearly by the heads of colleges, on the fourth Tuesday in Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
term, and no one can be chosen a second time. The Bampton Lectures
Bampton Lectures
The Bampton Lectures at the University of Oxford, England, were founded by a bequest of John Bampton,. They have taken place since 1780.They were a series of annual lectures; since the turn of the 20th century they have typically been biennial. They continue to concentrate on Christian theological...
, as they are known, began in 1780, and are still held, but have been biennial since 1901. The lectures have to be published within two months of their delivery.
Background to the benefaction
Bampton owned Nunton Farm, in southern Wiltshire near his parish, comprising land in NuntonNunton
Nunton is a small village and former civil parish in Wiltshire, England, on the River Ebble. Its nearest town is Salisbury, about away to the north.There is a pub, the Radnor Arms.-External links:* at any-village.com...
, Downton, and Britford
Britford
Britford is a village and civil parish beside the River Avon about southeast of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. The village is just off the A338 road.-Archaeology:Little Woodbury, southwest of the village, is the site of an Iron Age settlement...
. Jacob Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone wished to purchase it, for his estate at Longford Castle
Longford Castle
Longford Castle is located on the banks of the River Avon south of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.In 1573 Thomas Gorges, of Langford acquired the manor , which was originally owned by the Cervingtons. Prior to this the existing mansion house had been damaged by fire...
which is just north-east of Nunton. Bampton was unwilling to sell, a dispute arose, and to put the land beyond Folkestone's reach, Bampton left it to the University of Oxford; which took possession around 1778 after his wife had died. Eventually Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 2nd Earl of Radnor
Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 2nd Earl of Radnor
Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 2nd Earl of Radnor FRS FSA was a British nobleman, styled Hon. Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie from 1761 to 1765 and Viscount Folkestone from 1765 to 1776.-Life:...
, Folkestone's grandson, made an exchange in 1805 with the University of Nunton Farm for the Tinkersole estate at Wing, Buckinghamshire
Wing, Buckinghamshire
Wing is a village and civil parish in Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. The village is on the main A418 road between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard...
, backed by a private Act of Parliament.
Sarum lectures
A second series of lectures, not restricted to Anglican theologians, was established with the Bampton fund in 1952. The first Sarum lecturer was appointed for 1954; the lectureship was discontinued in 1995. The subsequent annual series of Sarum Theological Lectures are unconnected, being organised by Sarum CollegeSarum College
Sarum College is an ecumenical Christian institution in Salisbury, England. The College was established in 1995, and occupies the buildings formerly home to the Salisbury and Wells Theological College...
and taking place in Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
.
Sarum Lecturers at Oxford
- 1954 C. H. DoddC. H. DoddCharles Harold Dodd was a Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian.He is known for promoting "realized eschatology", the belief that Jesus' references to the kingdom of God meant a present reality rather than a future apocalypse.-Life:Dodd was born in Wrexham,...
, Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel - 1958 Fernando Capelle
- 1960 A. N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament
- 1964 David Knowles, From Pachomius to Ignatius: A Study in the Constitutional History of the Religious Orders
- 1966 Basil Edward Butler, The Theology of Vatican II
- 1968 Alec Vidler, A Variety of Catholic Modernists
- 1970 H. H. PriceH. H. PriceHenry Habberley Price was a Welsh philosopher, known for his work on perception. He also wrote on parapsychology....
, Essays in the Philosophy of Religion - 1972 Edward Yarnold, Second Gift: Study of Grace
- 1980 Schubert Ogden, The Point of Christology
- 1982 Henry ChadwickHenry Chadwick (theologian)Henry Chadwick KBE was a British academic and Church of England clergyman. A former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford — and as such also head of Christ Church, Oxford — he also served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, becoming the first person in four centuries to have headed a college at...
- 1986 Gordon D. KaufmanGordon D. KaufmanDr. Gordon D. Kaufman was the Mallinckrodt Professor of Divinity at Harvard University where he taught since 1963. He lectured widely, and taught at universities across the United States , and also in India, Japan, South Africa, England, and Hong Kong...
- 1990 Raymond Plant, published in Politics, Theology and History
- 1992 Basil MitchellBasil Mitchell (academic)Basil George Mitchell, D.D., FBA was a British philosopher and one-time Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford...
, Faith and Criticism - 1995–6 David Martin, published as Does Christianity Cause War?