Alexander Dallas (Anglican Priest)
Encyclopedia
Rev. Alexander Robert Charles Dallas (29 March 1791 – 12 December 1869) was an author, Church of England minister and Rector of Wonston
in Hampshire from 1828 to 1869, a member of the family that descended from James Dallas Rosshire in Scotland.
He born on the 29th of March, 1791 in Colchester
, the son of the Barrister the Jamacian born Robert Charles Dallas (1754–1824), his grandfather Dr. Robert Charles Dallas (1710–1769) was a doctor who amassed a fortune in Jamaica.
Prior to taking his religious orders, Dallas had been a supplies officer in Wellington’s army during the Napoleonic wars in Spain. He was present at the Battle of Waterloo
in 1815.
He entered the Middle Temple studying Law in 1819 (he was not called to the bar) and then Worcester College, Oxford; he awarded an MA. He was ordained a deacon and then a priest in the Church of England
in 1821 and curate of Radley.
At Morden in Surrey on the 4th of May 1818 Rev. Dallas married Mary Anne Ferguson (widow of James Edge) by whom he had five children. He began his mission to Ireland in 1843 and he is famously established the controversial Irish Church Missions
to Roman Catholics on the 28th of March 1849, which set up a number of Churches, schools, missions and orphanages. Officially he held the post Honorary Secretary of the Irish Church Missions. The Irish church missions was seen as proselytising during the Irish Famine, and for being Soupers. In the west of Ireland particularly Galway
his evangelistic zeal and aggressive approach caused much conflict in the community, he moved for a while to Castlekirke on Lough Corrib where he set up a school. He had his sermons translated from English to the Irish Language for the native population. Rev. Dallas and the ICM entered into partnership with The Irish society
for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, in the west, Rev. Dallas' anti-catholic tirades cause much bitterness within The Irish Society
, with the Dublin University branch opposing the alliance.
One of his supporters in Dublin was Mrs Ellen Smyly
the noted philanthropist in the nineteenth century in Dublin who had set up schools and homes in Dublin,, The Smyly Homes. His friends included many prominent Irish Protestants including members of the Guinness family.
His attitudes and inspiration for his missions could have be due to his belief in Premillennialism
or Millennialism
, and the famine was a portent. Also that the practice of Catholicism was responsible for poverty and disorder.
His first wife Ann Mary died in 1847, and he married his second wife, Anne Biscoe, in 1849.
He died on the 12th of December 1869 in Wonston and is buried there in the churchyard. There is a monument to his memory in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and in a church in Clifden
, Connemara
in Ireland, there is a commemoration regarding his efforts with the Irish Church Mission, with the inscription laboured prayerfully for the salvation of the perishing Roman Catholics of Ireland.
Following his death his wife published a memoir to him.
and was the first cousin of the US Senator and vice president George M. Dallas
. His Father was related by marriage to Lord Byron and a friend of his, Alexander compiled a book of recollections and correspondence with his father and Lord Byron.
Wonston
Wonston is a village and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. The village has an estimated population of 1,283 in the census of 2001...
in Hampshire from 1828 to 1869, a member of the family that descended from James Dallas Rosshire in Scotland.
He born on the 29th of March, 1791 in Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, the son of the Barrister the Jamacian born Robert Charles Dallas (1754–1824), his grandfather Dr. Robert Charles Dallas (1710–1769) was a doctor who amassed a fortune in Jamaica.
Prior to taking his religious orders, Dallas had been a supplies officer in Wellington’s army during the Napoleonic wars in Spain. He was present at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in 1815.
He entered the Middle Temple studying Law in 1819 (he was not called to the bar) and then Worcester College, Oxford; he awarded an MA. He was ordained a deacon and then a priest in 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...
in 1821 and curate of Radley.
At Morden in Surrey on the 4th of May 1818 Rev. Dallas married Mary Anne Ferguson (widow of James Edge) by whom he had five children. He began his mission to Ireland in 1843 and he is famously established the controversial Irish Church Missions
Irish Church Missions
The Irish Church Mission to the Roman Catholics is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 chiefly by English Anglicans with the backing and support of the Church of Ireland clergy and Bishops.-History:...
to Roman Catholics on the 28th of March 1849, which set up a number of Churches, schools, missions and orphanages. Officially he held the post Honorary Secretary of the Irish Church Missions. The Irish church missions was seen as proselytising during the Irish Famine, and for being Soupers. In the west of Ireland particularly Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
his evangelistic zeal and aggressive approach caused much conflict in the community, he moved for a while to Castlekirke on Lough Corrib where he set up a school. He had his sermons translated from English to the Irish Language for the native population. Rev. Dallas and the ICM entered into partnership with The Irish society
The Irish Society
The Irish Society, or to give it its full name, The Irish society for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, was founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1818 by members of the Church of Ireland...
for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, in the west, Rev. Dallas' anti-catholic tirades cause much bitterness within The Irish Society
The Irish Society
The Irish Society, or to give it its full name, The Irish society for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, was founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1818 by members of the Church of Ireland...
, with the Dublin University branch opposing the alliance.
One of his supporters in Dublin was Mrs Ellen Smyly
Ellen Smyly
Ellen Smyly was born on 14 November 1815, the daughter of Matthew Franks. She became a prominent philanthropist, fund-raising and setting up homes and schools for the poor. The Smyly Homes and subsequent Smyly Trust are named after her and her family.At the age of 19 she married the Dublin surgeon...
the noted philanthropist in the nineteenth century in Dublin who had set up schools and homes in Dublin,, The Smyly Homes. His friends included many prominent Irish Protestants including members of the Guinness family.
His attitudes and inspiration for his missions could have be due to his belief in Premillennialism
Premillennialism
Premillennialism in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration...
or Millennialism
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
, and the famine was a portent. Also that the practice of Catholicism was responsible for poverty and disorder.
His first wife Ann Mary died in 1847, and he married his second wife, Anne Biscoe, in 1849.
He died on the 12th of December 1869 in Wonston and is buried there in the churchyard. There is a monument to his memory in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and in a church in Clifden
Clifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
, Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
in Ireland, there is a commemoration regarding his efforts with the Irish Church Mission, with the inscription laboured prayerfully for the salvation of the perishing Roman Catholics of Ireland.
Following his death his wife published a memoir to him.
Famous Relatives
He was the nephew of US Treasury Secretary Alexander J. Dallas)Alexander J. Dallas (statesman)
Alexander James Dallas was an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison....
and was the first cousin of the US Senator and vice president George M. Dallas
George M. Dallas
George Mifflin Dallas was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the 11th Vice President of the United States , serving under James K. Polk.-Family and early life:...
. His Father was related by marriage to Lord Byron and a friend of his, Alexander compiled a book of recollections and correspondence with his father and Lord Byron.
Publications
- The Pastors Assistant by Rev Alexander Dallas
- The Cottagers Guide to the New Testament by Alexander Dallas
- Pastoral superintendence; its motive, its detail and its support By Alexander Robert Charles Dallas
- Felix Alvarez; or, Manners in Spain By Alexander Robert Charles Dallas
- The Point of Hope in Ireland's present crisis by the Rev. Alexander Dallas, M.A.,(Rector of Wonston, Hants.), James Nesbit and Co, 1849.
- The banner of the truth in Ireland: monthly information concerning Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics.By Society for Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics 1852.
- Recollections of the life of Lord Byron By Robert Charles Dallas, Alexander Robert Charles Dallas.