John Owen (chancellor of Bangor)
Encyclopedia
John Owen was a Welsh
priest who became Chancellor of Bangor Cathedral
. He was a staunch opponent of Methodism
and was regarded as having a "troublesome litigious temper", bringing Methodist supporters in front of the ecclesiastical courts and having some excommunicated.
, Wales
in 1698 and studied at Jesus College, Oxford
from 1719. It is unclear whether he obtained a degree from the University of Oxford
, but he is thought to have incorporated at the University of Cambridge
(Trinity Hall
) in 1741, obtaining LLB
and LLD degrees in 1742 and 1751 respectively. After ordination, he became vicar of Llannor
with Deneio (near Pwllheli
, Gwynedd
) in 1723, becoming canon
of Bangor Cathedral
in 1742 and Chancellor of the cathedral in 1743. In 1745, he was additionally appointed rector
of Llantrisant, Anglesey
; whilst his date of death is unknown, his successor was installed "because of the death of J. Owen" on 8 November 1755.
During his clerical career, Owen was known to be strongly opposed to Methodism
, complaining about the Methodist nature of circulating schools in the area and taking proceedings in the ecclesiastical courts against those who supported Methodists, often leading to excommunication. On one action, he prosecuted a priest who had allowed a circulating school to function in his parish; the case took three years to resolve and, whilst the priest was acquitted, he still had to leave his farm. One contemporary of Owen, the priest John Lewis, said that Owen was "famous for a troublesome litigious temper" and thought it strange that the Bishop of Bangor
would want to appoint him Chancellor.
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...
priest who became Chancellor of Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
. He was a staunch opponent of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and was regarded as having a "troublesome litigious temper", bringing Methodist supporters in front of the ecclesiastical courts and having some excommunicated.
Life
Owen was born in LlanidloesLlanidloes
Llanidloes is a town along the A470 road and B4518 road in Powys, within the historic county boundaries of Montgomeryshire , Mid Wales.It is the first town on the River Severn...
, 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...
in 1698 and studied at 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...
from 1719. It is unclear whether he obtained a degree from the University 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...
, but he is thought to have incorporated at the University of 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...
(Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
) in 1741, obtaining LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
and LLD degrees in 1742 and 1751 respectively. After ordination, he became vicar of Llannor
Llannor
Llannor is a village and community in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, located on the Llŷn Peninsula. The community includes the villages of Abererch, Efailnewydd and Rhos-fawr, and has a population of 2,244....
with Deneio (near Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
) in 1723, becoming 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 Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
in 1742 and Chancellor of the cathedral in 1743. In 1745, he was additionally appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Llantrisant, Anglesey
Llantrisant, Anglesey
Llantrisant is a settlement in Anglesey, Wales.- External links :*...
; whilst his date of death is unknown, his successor was installed "because of the death of J. Owen" on 8 November 1755.
During his clerical career, Owen was known to be strongly opposed to Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, complaining about the Methodist nature of circulating schools in the area and taking proceedings in the ecclesiastical courts against those who supported Methodists, often leading to excommunication. On one action, he prosecuted a priest who had allowed a circulating school to function in his parish; the case took three years to resolve and, whilst the priest was acquitted, he still had to leave his farm. One contemporary of Owen, the priest John Lewis, said that Owen was "famous for a troublesome litigious temper" and thought it strange that the Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
would want to appoint him Chancellor.