Robert William Radclyffe Dolling
Encyclopedia
Robert William Radclyffe Dolling (1851–1902) was an Anglican divine, known as Father Dolling.
, County Down
, and educated at Harrow
and Cambridge
. From 1878 to 1882 he was warden of one of the houses of the Postmen's League, started by Father Stanton of St. Alban's, Holborn
. He was ordained in 1883 to a curacy at Corscombe
, Dorset
, but resided in London
as head of St. Martin's Mission, Stepney
.
In 1885 a difficulty as to the relation of his mission to Holy Trinity parish, Stepney, led to his resignation, and he next accepted the charge of St. Agatha's, Landport
, the Winchester College
mission. The reforms he accomplished there were described in his Ten Years in a Portsmouth Slum (London 1896). In 1885 he again resigned owing to the refusal of Randall Davidson, Bishop of Winchester
, to sanction the extreme ritual used in the service at St. Agatha's
. During his time at the mission he spent a little over £50,000. Despite extensive fundraising when he resigned there was still an outstanding debt of £3,090, for which Dolling was responsible. He paid this off through sales of his book and further fundraising.
In 1897 Dolling visited the United States
, where his preaching made an impression. He returned to the UK
in the following year as vicar
of St. Saviour's, Poplar
, and retained the living until his death.
Life
Dolling was born at MagheralinMagheralin
Magheralin is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the main Moira to Lurgan road, beside the River Lagan. It had a population of 1,144 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Craigavon Borough Council area....
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, and educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. From 1878 to 1882 he was warden of one of the houses of the Postmen's League, started by Father Stanton of St. Alban's, Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
. He was ordained in 1883 to a curacy at Corscombe
Corscombe
Corscombe is a small village in west Dorset, England, halfway between Yeovil and Beaminster. The village has a population of 465 .The musician Polly Jean Harvey is a former resident....
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, but resided 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...
as head of St. Martin's Mission, Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
.
In 1885 a difficulty as to the relation of his mission to Holy Trinity parish, Stepney, led to his resignation, and he next accepted the charge of St. Agatha's, Landport
Landport
Landport is a district located near the centre of Portsea Island and is part of the city of Portsmouth, England.The district contains the main shopping area for Portsmouth. Before World War II the district was also a residential area, mainly catering for employees of the naval dockyard and their...
, the Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
mission. The reforms he accomplished there were described in his Ten Years in a Portsmouth Slum (London 1896). In 1885 he again resigned owing to the refusal of Randall Davidson, Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, to sanction the extreme ritual used in the service at St. Agatha's
St Agatha's, Landport
-History:Originally situated in an area of extreme deprivationtoday it stands proudly alone, the “Cathedral of the car parks” in Portsmouth's shopping district. A magnificent building it replaced a much simpler mission church...
. During his time at the mission he spent a little over £50,000. Despite extensive fundraising when he resigned there was still an outstanding debt of £3,090, for which Dolling was responsible. He paid this off through sales of his book and further fundraising.
In 1897 Dolling visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where his preaching made an impression. He returned to the UK
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
in the following year as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St. Saviour's, Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
, and retained the living until his death.