Philip Clayton
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Philip Thomas Byard Clayton CH
(known as "Tubby Clayton") (12 December 1885 – 16 December 1972) was an Anglican clergyman and the founder of Toc H
.
He was born in Queensland
, Australia
of English parents who brought him back to England when he was two years old. He was educated at St Paul's School in London
and at Exeter College
, Oxford, where he obtained a First in Theology.
After ordination as a priest of the Church of England
, Clayton served as curate at St Mary's Church, Portsea
, from 1910 to 1915. He then became an army chaplain in France where, in 1915, he and another chaplain Rev. Neville Talbot opened "Talbot House", a rest house for soldiers at Poperinge
, Belgium
. It became known as Toc H, this being signal terminology for "T H" or "Talbot House". It closed temporarily in 1918 when the German front had drawn too close.
The spirit of friendship fostered at Toc H across social and denominational boundaries inspired Clayton, the Rev. Dick Sheppard and Alexander Paterson
to set out in 1920 what became known as the Four points of the Toc H compass:
This followed the foundation of a new Toc H House in Kensington in 1919, followed by others in London, Manchester, and Southampton. The Toc H movement continued to grow in numbers and established, also, a women's league.
From 1922 to 1962, Clayton was Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower
and, from that base, he travelled widely in Britain and throughout the British Empire promoting Toc H and encouraging the foundation of new branches.
Tubby Clayton is honoured in The Museum of Army Chaplaincy
and in the "Talbot House" in Poperinge
, Belgium
.
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
(known as "Tubby Clayton") (12 December 1885 – 16 December 1972) was an Anglican clergyman and the founder of Toc H
Toc H
Toc H is an international Christian movement. The name is an abbreviation for Talbot House, 'Toc' signifying the letter T in the signals spelling alphabet used by the British Army in World War I. A soldiers' rest and recreation centre named Talbot House was founded in December 1915 at Poperinghe,...
.
He was born in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
of English parents who brought him back to England when he was two years old. He was educated at St Paul's School in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, Oxford, where he obtained a First in Theology.
After ordination as a priest of 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...
, Clayton served as curate at St Mary's Church, Portsea
Portsea
Portsea is an area of the English city of Portsmouth, located on Portsea Island, within the ceremonial county of Hampshire.The area was originally known as the Common and lay between the town of Portsmouth and the nearby Dockyard. The Common started to be developed at the end of the seventeenth...
, from 1910 to 1915. He then became an army chaplain in France where, in 1915, he and another chaplain Rev. Neville Talbot opened "Talbot House", a rest house for soldiers at Poperinge
Poperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It became known as Toc H, this being signal terminology for "T H" or "Talbot House". It closed temporarily in 1918 when the German front had drawn too close.
The spirit of friendship fostered at Toc H across social and denominational boundaries inspired Clayton, the Rev. Dick Sheppard and Alexander Paterson
Alexander Paterson (penologist)
Sir Alexander Henry Paterson MC was a British penologist who, as Commissioner of Prisons, introduced reforms that would provide a humane regime in penal institutions and encourage rehabilitation among inmates....
to set out in 1920 what became known as the Four points of the Toc H compass:
- 1. Friendship ("To love widely")
- 2. Service ("To build bravely")
- 3. Fairmindedness ("To think fairly")
- 4. The Kingdom of God ("To witness humbly")
This followed the foundation of a new Toc H House in Kensington in 1919, followed by others in London, Manchester, and Southampton. The Toc H movement continued to grow in numbers and established, also, a women's league.
From 1922 to 1962, Clayton was Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower
All Hallows-by-the-Tower
All Hallows-by-the-Tower, also previously dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, is an ancient Anglican church located in Byward Street in the City of London, overlooking the Tower of London.-History:...
and, from that base, he travelled widely in Britain and throughout the British Empire promoting Toc H and encouraging the foundation of new branches.
Tubby Clayton is honoured in The Museum of Army Chaplaincy
The Museum of Army Chaplaincy
The Museum of Army Chaplaincy is a museum at Amport House, Hampshire, United Kingdom, which tells the story of British Army Chaplaincy from earliest times to the present day with the help of archive material and historical relics from several centuries...
and in the "Talbot House" in Poperinge
Poperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Further reading
- ODNB article by C. S. Nicholls, ‘Clayton, Philip Thomas Byard (1885–1972)’, rev., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 29 July 2008.