Philip Ellis
Encyclopedia
Philip Constable Ellis was a Welsh
Anglo-Catholic clergyman, and one of the earliest Tractarians in north Wales.
Ellis studied at Beaumaris Grammar School and Jesus College, Oxford
, where he matriculated
at the age of 18 in 1840. He graduated in 1843 or 1844, coming under the influence of the Tractarian movement whilst at Oxford. He did much to promote Anglo-Catholicism after his ordination in 1846, refusing to deal with non-conformists, holding daily services and making changes to church ritual and furnishings. He was the curate
of Charles Williams
at Holyhead
in 1847 and in 1850 became perpetual curate
of Llanfaes
and Penmon, all on the island of Anglesey
in north Wales. His final position was as rector of Llanfairfechan
, Gwynedd
, from 1862 until his death in 1900. He refused three offers to become a Dean
of a cathedral in Wales. His refusals to compromise his Anglo-Catholic principles led to conflict with Christopher Bethell
, the Bishop of Bangor
(despite Bethell's own views), but Ellis had influential support within the diocese and Bethell did not pursue his attempts to discipline Ellis.
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...
Anglo-Catholic clergyman, and one of the earliest Tractarians in north Wales.
Ellis studied at Beaumaris Grammar School 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...
, where he matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at the age of 18 in 1840. He graduated in 1843 or 1844, coming under the influence of the Tractarian movement whilst at Oxford. He did much to promote Anglo-Catholicism after his ordination in 1846, refusing to deal with non-conformists, holding daily services and making changes to church ritual and furnishings. He was the curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Charles Williams
Charles Williams (academic)
Charles Williams was Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1857 to 1877.-Life:Williams studied at Jesus College from 1823 to 1827, holding a scholarship and gaining a First in Literae Humaniores. He was then ordained, and was a missionary Fellow of the college from 1829 to 1845...
at Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
in 1847 and in 1850 became perpetual curate
Perpetual curate
A Perpetual Curate was a clergyman of the Church of England officiating as parish priest in a small or sparsely peopled parish or districtAs noted below the term perpetual was not to be understood literally but was used to indicate he was not a curate but the parish priest and of higher...
of Llanfaes
Llanfaes
Llanfaes is a small village on the island of Anglesey, Wales, located on the shore of the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait, the tidal waterway separating Anglesey from the north Wales coast.- History :...
and Penmon, all on the island of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
in north Wales. His final position was as rector of Llanfairfechan
Llanfairfechan
Llanfairfechan is a town and community in the Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the coast of north Wales on the route of the A55 road, between Penmaenmawr and Bangor. It previously was in Gwynedd and prior to that was in Caernarfonshire. For ceremonial and electoral boundary purposes it was...
, 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...
, from 1862 until his death in 1900. He refused three offers to become a Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of a cathedral in Wales. His refusals to compromise his Anglo-Catholic principles led to conflict with Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell was Bishop of Bangor.Bethell was the second son of the Reverend Richard Bethell, the rector of St Peter's Wallingford, Berkshire, who died 12 January 1806 having married his wife Ann in 1771...
, 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...
(despite Bethell's own views), but Ellis had influential support within the diocese and Bethell did not pursue his attempts to discipline Ellis.