Cecil Tyndale-Biscoe
Encyclopedia
Cecil Earle Tyndale-Biscoe (9 February 1863 — 1 August 1949) was a British
missionary
and educationalist, working in Kashmir
. He was born with the family name Biscoe. It was changed to Tyndale-Biscoe in 1883.
Biscoe was born into a land-owning family, son of William Earle Biscoe and his wife Elizabeth Carey Sandeman. He was educated at Bradfield College
, and then Jesus College, Cambridge
. At university he coxed
the winning Cambridge
crew in the 1884 Boat Race. In 1885 he coxed the winning Jesus College
crew in the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
. After being awarded a BA
, he was ordained as a priest of the Church of England
. After a short time working in London's East End
, in 1890 Tyndale-Biscoe was appointed to a missionary school in Kashmir by the Church Missionary Society.
In the late 19th century, Kashmir was a princely state made up of a Muslim
majority ruled by a Maharaja
and his Hindu
minority. The Maharaja often utilized the services of British and European experts, though Kashmir was an independent kingdom. Seeing the squalid conditions and caste system as a serious problem, Tyndale-Biscoe aimed to use his own Christian values
and western
civic ideals to improve Kashmiri society. Although he did not actively pursue conversions as much as his missionary backers would have liked, Tyndale-Biscoe was a convinced imperialist and supporter of the India Defence League
.
Tyndale-Biscoe's educational philosophy was one in which conspicuous intellect, or 'cleverness', was valued less than the acquisition of more profound attributes and abilities. His schooling placed emphasis on physical activities — boxing
, boating
, football — which would stimulate senses of courage
, masculinity
and physical fitness
. The pupils were also engaged in civic duties, such as street-cleaning, and in helping deal with flooding and cholera
. Enforcing participation in team sports and activities in a highly socially-stratified culture had significance beyond the replication of Tyndale-Biscoe's English public school educational experience.
By his later years, Tyndale-Biscoe had founded six schools with 1,800 students. In 1912 he received the Kaisar-I-Hind Medal, and an additional bar in 1929. After Indian independence, he left for Rhodesia
, where he died in 1949.
Tyndale-Biscoe married Blanche Violet Burges, daughter of Reverend Richard B. Burges, on 2 November 1891 and had four children.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
missionary
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...
and educationalist, working in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. He was born with the family name Biscoe. It was changed to Tyndale-Biscoe in 1883.
Biscoe was born into a land-owning family, son of William Earle Biscoe and his wife Elizabeth Carey Sandeman. He was educated at Bradfield College
Bradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
, and then Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. At university he coxed
Coxswain (rowing)
In a crew, the coxswain is the member who sits in the stern facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.- Role :The role of a coxswain within a crew is to:...
the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
crew in the 1884 Boat Race. In 1885 he coxed the winning Jesus College
Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge)
Jesus College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Jesus College, Cambridge. Over the years, it has been consistently successful, with the 1st Men's VIII never having dropped below 12th place in the May Bumps and 11th position in the Lent Bumps...
crew in the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. After being awarded a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, he was ordained as a priest of 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...
. After a short time working in London's East End
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, in 1890 Tyndale-Biscoe was appointed to a missionary school in Kashmir by the Church Missionary Society.
In the late 19th century, Kashmir was a princely state made up of a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
majority ruled by a Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
and his Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
minority. The Maharaja often utilized the services of British and European experts, though Kashmir was an independent kingdom. Seeing the squalid conditions and caste system as a serious problem, Tyndale-Biscoe aimed to use his own Christian values
Christian values
The term Christian values historically refers to the values found in the teachings of Jesus.The biblical teachings of Jesus include:* love of God: "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" ,...
and western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
civic ideals to improve Kashmiri society. Although he did not actively pursue conversions as much as his missionary backers would have liked, Tyndale-Biscoe was a convinced imperialist and supporter of the India Defence League
India Defence League
The India Defence League was a British pressure group founded in June 1933 dedicated to keeping India within the British Empire.It grew from the parliamentary India Defence Committee and was founded with the support of 10 Privy Councillors, 28 peers, 57 MPs, 2 former Governors and 3 former...
.
Tyndale-Biscoe's educational philosophy was one in which conspicuous intellect, or 'cleverness', was valued less than the acquisition of more profound attributes and abilities. His schooling placed emphasis on physical activities — boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, football — which would stimulate senses of courage
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
, masculinity
Masculinity
Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
and physical fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
. The pupils were also engaged in civic duties, such as street-cleaning, and in helping deal with flooding and cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. Enforcing participation in team sports and activities in a highly socially-stratified culture had significance beyond the replication of Tyndale-Biscoe's English public school educational experience.
By his later years, Tyndale-Biscoe had founded six schools with 1,800 students. In 1912 he received the Kaisar-I-Hind Medal, and an additional bar in 1929. After Indian independence, he left for Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, where he died in 1949.
Tyndale-Biscoe married Blanche Violet Burges, daughter of Reverend Richard B. Burges, on 2 November 1891 and had four children.
External links
- Tyndale Biscoe School — a school, founded by the Christian Mission Society in 1880, named in Tyndale-Biscoe's honour.
- Tyndale Biscoe School fan page on Facebook
- Tyndale Biscoe School group on Facebook