S. E. Cottam
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Samuel Elsworth Cottam, M.A.
was an English
poet
and priest
.
, where he was a friend of Edwin Emmanuel Bradford
.
He was a lifelong Anglo-Catholic, unlike Bradford
who later became a Modernist
.
Cottam and Bradford were together Chaplains of St George's Anglican Church in Paris.
He was later incumbent at Wootton, Vale of White Horse
, where John Betjeman
and W. H. Auden
went to see him celebrate Sung Mass.
Cottam published a gay magazine called Chameleon, which was produced as evidence in the trial of Oscar Wilde
.
In his will he left Trust funds for `the purchase of objects of beauty for the furtherance of religion in ancient gothic churches`. This Trust is now administered by Friends of Friendless Churches
and has been used to benefit many dozens of churches in England and Wales, by the addition of furnishings, stained glass and bells.
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
was an English
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...
poet
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.
Biography
Cottam was educated at Exeter College, OxfordExeter 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...
, where he was a friend of Edwin Emmanuel Bradford
Edwin Emmanuel Bradford
The Reverend Edwin Emmanuel Bradford was an English clergyman and Uranian poet and novelist. He attended Exeter College, Oxford, received his B.A. in 1884, and was awarded a D.D. He was vicar of Nordelph, Downham Market, Norfolk, from 1905 to 1944. Towards the beginning of his life Bradford was an...
.
He was a lifelong Anglo-Catholic, unlike Bradford
Edwin Emmanuel Bradford
The Reverend Edwin Emmanuel Bradford was an English clergyman and Uranian poet and novelist. He attended Exeter College, Oxford, received his B.A. in 1884, and was awarded a D.D. He was vicar of Nordelph, Downham Market, Norfolk, from 1905 to 1944. Towards the beginning of his life Bradford was an...
who later became a Modernist
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
.
Cottam and Bradford were together Chaplains of St George's Anglican Church in Paris.
He was later incumbent at Wootton, Vale of White Horse
Wootton, Vale of White Horse
Wootton is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse about north-west of Abingdon. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire...
, where John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
and W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
went to see him celebrate Sung Mass.
Cottam published a gay magazine called Chameleon, which was produced as evidence in the trial of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
.
In his will he left Trust funds for `the purchase of objects of beauty for the furtherance of religion in ancient gothic churches`. This Trust is now administered by Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
and has been used to benefit many dozens of churches in England and Wales, by the addition of furnishings, stained glass and bells.
Sources and further information
- Bevis Hillier, Young Betjeman (London: John Murray, 1988), p. 177