Charles Thorp
Encyclopedia
Charles Thorp was an English churchman, rector
of the parish of Ryton
and, later, Archdeacon of Durham and the first warden of the University of Durham.
, Archdeacon of Northumberland and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
and Durham School
. In 1799 he entered Peterhouse, Cambridge
and then University College, Oxford
, where he graduated BA (1803) and MA (1806). He became a Fellow and Tutor at University College, Oxford in 1806, Deacon in 1806 and Priest in 1807.
He then became rector of Ryton in 1811, joining a prestigious group with previous rectors including Thomas Secker
, later Archbishop of Canterbury
. After his time as rector at Ryton, he became Canon (1829) and then Archdeacon of Durham in 1831 and, a year later, became the first warden of the University of Durham. Thorp remained heavily involved with the university, also being the first master, the most senior person in the SCR
, of University College. This was a position he held until his death in Durham in 1862. He was buried at Ryton Church.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1839.
His name has been proposed as the identity of a new secondary school in West Gateshead, one which will be created by the merging of Hookergate School and Ryton Comprehensive School.
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the parish of Ryton
Ryton, Tyne and Wear
Ryton is a semi-rural small town near the western border of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent town in County Durham it became incorporated into the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. It has a population of 15,742.- Location :Ryton lies...
and, later, Archdeacon of Durham and the first warden of the University of Durham.
Life
He was born in Gateshead, Durham, the son of Robert ThorpRobert Thorp (archdeacon)
Robert Thorp was a British clergyman.He attended Durham School and Peterhouse, Cambridge University, obtaining a B.A. in 1758 as senior wrangler and an M.A. in 1761. In 1768 he succeeded his father Thomas Thorp as rector of Chillingham; in 1781 he became rector of Gateshead; in 1792 he became...
, Archdeacon of Northumberland and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
and Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
. In 1799 he entered Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
and then University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, where he graduated BA (1803) and MA (1806). He became a Fellow and Tutor at University College, Oxford in 1806, Deacon in 1806 and Priest in 1807.
He then became rector of Ryton in 1811, joining a prestigious group with previous rectors including Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker , Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire.-Early life and studies:In 1699, Secker went to Richard Brown's free school in Chesterfield, staying with his half-sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Richard Milnes...
, later 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...
. After his time as rector at Ryton, he became Canon (1829) and then Archdeacon of Durham in 1831 and, a year later, became the first warden of the University of Durham. Thorp remained heavily involved with the university, also being the first master, the most senior person in the SCR
Common Room (university)
In some universities in the United Kingdom — particularly collegiate universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Durham — students and the academic body are organised into common rooms...
, of University College. This was a position he held until his death in Durham in 1862. He was buried at Ryton Church.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1839.
His name has been proposed as the identity of a new secondary school in West Gateshead, one which will be created by the merging of Hookergate School and Ryton Comprehensive School.