C. F. D. Moule
Encyclopedia
Charles Francis Digby Moule CBE
FBA (3 December 1908–30 September 2007), known to his friends as Charlie but professionally by his initials C. F. D. Moule, was an Anglican priest and theologian
. He was a leading scholar of the New Testament
, and was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity
at the University of Cambridge
for 25 years, from 1951 to 1976.
Moule was born in China
, in Hangchow (now Hangzhou
) near Shanghai
, where his father, Rev. H.W. Moule, and mother were missionaries
. He was their third son. His family were Anglican clerics from Dorset
. His paternal grandfather George Evans Moule
was bishop of mid-China, and his great-uncle, Handley Moule
, was the first Principal at Ridley Hall and later Bishop of Durham. His family returned to England after the First World War.
He was educated at Weymouth College
in Dorset, and won a scholarship to read classics
at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, taking Firsts in both parts and winning the Jeremie Septuagint prize, the Evans prize, and the Crosse scholarship. He studied theology at Ridley Hall, and was ordained
as a deacon
in 1933 and as a priest
in 1934.
He served as curate
at St Mark's Church, Cambridge from 1933 to 1934, during which time he was also a tutor at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. He moved to Rugby in 1934, became curate of St Andrew's Church, Rugby, before moving back to Cambridge in 1936 to become curate at Great St Mary's, Cambridge, the University Church of the University of Cambridge, where he remained until 1940. He was also Vice-Principal of Ridley Hall from 1936 to 1944.
He became a Fellow
at Clare College, Cambridge
in 1944, serving as Dean from 1944 to 1951. He remained a Fellow at Clare until his death, and was secretary of the Clare Association for many years. He was also a Faculty Assistant Lecturer in divinity at Cambridge University from 1944 to 1947, and a University Lecturer from 1947 to 1951, when he was appointed Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity in 1951. Founded as a readership by Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1502, it is the oldest chair in the University of Cambridge, and is traditionally held by a New Testament scholar. He was also a non-residentiary Canon
Theologian at Leicester Cathedral
from 1955 to 1976, and became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1966. He was a President of the International Society of New Testament Studies in 1967, and became an honorary Fellow at Emmanuel in 1972. He delivered the Ethel M Wood lecture in 1964, on "Man and Nature in the New Testament".
He produced two main written works: The Birth of the New Testament, first published in 1962, which explores the context in which the New Testament was written, and The Origin of Christology, published in 1977, which proposed that the church's understanding of Jesus had not evolved but rather developed and matured over the centuries. He also contributed to the translations of the Apocrypha
and New Testament in the New English Bible
, although he preferred the Revised Version
. His other published works include An Idiom Book of New Testament Greek (1953), The Phenomenon of the New Testament (1967), The Holy Spirit (1978), and Essays in New Testament Interpretation (1982) and Forgiveness and Reconciliation,m and other New Testament Themes (1998).
He influenced many students who now hold chairs of divinity - including his successor as Lady Margaret's Professor, Graham Stanton - or who rose high within the Anglican hierarchy, including future Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams
(Moule officiated at his wedding) and Archbishop of York
John Sentamu
. A humble, prayerful man, of slim build and small stature, he held a profound faith. A friend, Joachim Jeremias
, said, "In him could be seen no trace of original sin
." Like his great-uncle, he became known affectionately as "Holy Mouley".
He was a leading advocate for the Ridley Hall in the early 1970s, when it was threatened with closure. He retired in 1976, and lived at Ridley Hall until 1980, acting as New Testament. He moved to Pevensey
in Sussex
in 1981, close to his friend, Bishop Stanley Betts. He continued to preach into his 90s.
He became an honorary Doctorate of Divinity at St Andrew's University in 1958, and won the British Academy
's Burkitt Medal for Biblical Studies in 1970. He was appointed CBE in 1985 for his services to New Testament studies, and was became an honorary Doctor of Divinity at Cambridge in 1988, in celebration of his 80th birthday.
He moved to a nursing home in Dorset in 2003, to be near his family. He died in Leigh
, in Dorset, aged 98. He never married.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FBA (3 December 1908–30 September 2007), known to his friends as Charlie but professionally by his initials C. F. D. Moule, was an Anglican priest and theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. He was a leading scholar of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, and was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity
Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity
The Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity is the oldest professorship at the University of Cambridge. It was founded initially as a readership by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, in 1502....
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
for 25 years, from 1951 to 1976.
Moule was born in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in Hangchow (now Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
) near Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, where his father, Rev. H.W. Moule, and mother were missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. He was their third son. His family were Anglican clerics from 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...
. His paternal grandfather George Evans Moule
George Evans Moule
George Evans Moule was an Anglican missionary in China and the first Anglican bishop of mid-China....
was bishop of mid-China, and his great-uncle, Handley Moule
Handley Moule
Handley Carr Glyn Moule was an evangelical Anglican theologian, writer, poet, and Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920....
, was the first Principal at Ridley Hall and later Bishop of Durham. His family returned to England after the First World War.
He was educated at Weymouth College
Weymouth College
Weymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...
in Dorset, and won a scholarship to read classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, taking Firsts in both parts and winning the Jeremie Septuagint prize, the Evans prize, and the Crosse scholarship. He studied theology at Ridley Hall, and was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1933 and as a 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...
in 1934.
He served as 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...
at St Mark's Church, Cambridge from 1933 to 1934, during which time he was also a tutor at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. He moved to Rugby in 1934, became curate of St Andrew's Church, Rugby, before moving back to Cambridge in 1936 to become curate at Great St Mary's, Cambridge, the University Church of the University of Cambridge, where he remained until 1940. He was also Vice-Principal of Ridley Hall from 1936 to 1944.
He became a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
in 1944, serving as Dean from 1944 to 1951. He remained a Fellow at Clare until his death, and was secretary of the Clare Association for many years. He was also a Faculty Assistant Lecturer in divinity at Cambridge University from 1944 to 1947, and a University Lecturer from 1947 to 1951, when he was appointed Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity in 1951. Founded as a readership by Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1502, it is the oldest chair in the University of Cambridge, and is traditionally held by a New Testament scholar. He was also a non-residentiary Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
Theologian at Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Martin, Leicester is a Church of England cathedral in the English city of Leicester, and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester...
from 1955 to 1976, and became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1966. He was a President of the International Society of New Testament Studies in 1967, and became an honorary Fellow at Emmanuel in 1972. He delivered the Ethel M Wood lecture in 1964, on "Man and Nature in the New Testament".
He produced two main written works: The Birth of the New Testament, first published in 1962, which explores the context in which the New Testament was written, and The Origin of Christology, published in 1977, which proposed that the church's understanding of Jesus had not evolved but rather developed and matured over the centuries. He also contributed to the translations of the Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
and New Testament in the New English Bible
New English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
, although he preferred the Revised Version
Revised Version
The Revised Version of the Bible is a late 19th-century British revision of the King James Version of 1611. It was the first and remains the only officially authorized and recognized revision of the King James Bible. The work was entrusted to over 50 scholars from various denominations in Britain...
. His other published works include An Idiom Book of New Testament Greek (1953), The Phenomenon of the New Testament (1967), The Holy Spirit (1978), and Essays in New Testament Interpretation (1982) and Forgiveness and Reconciliation,m and other New Testament Themes (1998).
He influenced many students who now hold chairs of divinity - including his successor as Lady Margaret's Professor, Graham Stanton - or who rose high within the Anglican hierarchy, including future Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
(Moule officiated at his wedding) and Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
John Sentamu
John Sentamu
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu is the 97th Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of the province of York, and Primate of England. He is the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.-Life and career:...
. A humble, prayerful man, of slim build and small stature, he held a profound faith. A friend, Joachim Jeremias
Joachim Jeremias
Joachim Jeremias was a German Lutheran theologian, scholar of Near Eastern Studies and university professor for New Testament studies. He was abbot of Bursfelde, 1968–1971....
, said, "In him could be seen no trace of original sin
Original sin
Original sin is, according to a Christian theological doctrine, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred...
." Like his great-uncle, he became known affectionately as "Holy Mouley".
He was a leading advocate for the Ridley Hall in the early 1970s, when it was threatened with closure. He retired in 1976, and lived at Ridley Hall until 1980, acting as New Testament. He moved to Pevensey
Pevensey
Pevensey is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne, one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of the parish.-Geography:The village of Pevensey is located on...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1981, close to his friend, Bishop Stanley Betts. He continued to preach into his 90s.
He became an honorary Doctorate of Divinity at St Andrew's University in 1958, and won the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
's Burkitt Medal for Biblical Studies in 1970. He was appointed CBE in 1985 for his services to New Testament studies, and was became an honorary Doctor of Divinity at Cambridge in 1988, in celebration of his 80th birthday.
He moved to a nursing home in Dorset in 2003, to be near his family. He died in Leigh
Leigh, Dorset
Leigh is a village in northwest Dorset, England, six miles southwest of Sherborne. The village has a population of 509 . In a field just south of the village lie the remains of the "Miz Maze", an earthwork of uncertain origin that, centuries ago, folklore attributes to having connections with...
, in Dorset, aged 98. He never married.
Еditions
- Robert Morgan and Patrick Moule (еds), Christ Alive and at Large: Unpublished writings of C. F. D. Moule (Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2010).