Charles Touzel
Encyclopedia
Charles John Cliff Touzel (1855 – 24 August 1899) was an English
priest who became the rector of Heswall
in Cheshire. In his younger days he was a rugby union
player of note, representing Cambridge University and winning two international caps for England
.
, Cheshire in 1855, and was baptised 7 June of that year. He was the only son of Charles Touzel, a superintendent for the South American Steam Navigation Company, and his wife Mary Cliff. Touzel was educated at Wellington College
before matriculating to St John's College, Cambridge
in 1874. He received his BA
in 1878, and his MA in 1881. On receiving his BA he was ordained
as a Deacon at Worcester Cathedral
. He was made a priest in 1879, and was a curate
of Coventry from 1878 to 1880. In 1880 he became the Rector of Heswall, until he availed himself of the provisions of "The Clerical Disabilities Relief Act 1870", and disclaimed his Orders in 1886 to study law.
On the 2 December 1886 he was admitted to the Inner Temple
, though by 1888 he was a captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
. He later moved to Oswestry
where he took residence at Rhysnant Hall, before returning to live in Heswall. He died at the age of 44 at Cotswold Sanatorium. In memory of Touzel one of the bells of St Peters parish church in Heswall is dedicated to him.
es of 1874, 1875 and 1876. Described as a 'brilliant forward', Touzel saw Cambridge draw in 1874, the final 20-a-side Varsity Match, lose in 1875 and win in 1876. In 1877, while still playing for Cambridge University, he was called up to represent England in their third encounter with Ireland
. Played at Kennington Oval, this was the first England game played under the new 15-a-side rules, and despite the reduction of the teams, down from 20, Touzel was one of five newly capped players. The England selectors had chosen a light forward pack to aid running with the ball, and although the Irish pack played well their poor kicking tactics allowed England to dominate, winning 2-0.
Just over a month later, Touzel was given his second international call up, this time an away game to Scotland. The game was a dour affair, which Scotland controlled through-out. The game was decided by a long range drop goal from Scotland's Malcolm Cross
, and Touzel never represented his country again. Despite the end of his international career, Touzel continued to play rugby, representing both Liverpool
and Blackheath F.C..
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...
priest who became the rector of Heswall
Heswall
Heswall is a town in Wirral, in the county of Merseyside, England. Administratively, it is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. At the time of the 2001 Census, the total population of the ward was 16,012 , which included the nearby villages of Barnston and Gayton...
in Cheshire. In his younger days he was a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player of note, representing Cambridge University and winning two international caps for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
Early life
Touzel was born in BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, Cheshire in 1855, and was baptised 7 June of that year. He was the only son of Charles Touzel, a superintendent for the South American Steam Navigation Company, and his wife Mary Cliff. Touzel was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
before matriculating to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1874. He received his 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...
in 1878, and his MA in 1881. On receiving his BA he 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 at Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
. He was made a priest in 1879, and was a 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...
of Coventry from 1878 to 1880. In 1880 he became the Rector of Heswall, until he availed himself of the provisions of "The Clerical Disabilities Relief Act 1870", and disclaimed his Orders in 1886 to study law.
On the 2 December 1886 he was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, though by 1888 he was a captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
. He later moved to Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
where he took residence at Rhysnant Hall, before returning to live in Heswall. He died at the age of 44 at Cotswold Sanatorium. In memory of Touzel one of the bells of St Peters parish church in Heswall is dedicated to him.
Rugby career
Touzel first played rugby as a schoolboy, and was a member of the Wellington College team. On matriculating to Cambridge, he was selected for the University team gaining three sporting 'Blues' when he played in the Varsity MatchThe Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
es of 1874, 1875 and 1876. Described as a 'brilliant forward', Touzel saw Cambridge draw in 1874, the final 20-a-side Varsity Match, lose in 1875 and win in 1876. In 1877, while still playing for Cambridge University, he was called up to represent England in their third encounter with Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. Played at Kennington Oval, this was the first England game played under the new 15-a-side rules, and despite the reduction of the teams, down from 20, Touzel was one of five newly capped players. The England selectors had chosen a light forward pack to aid running with the ball, and although the Irish pack played well their poor kicking tactics allowed England to dominate, winning 2-0.
Just over a month later, Touzel was given his second international call up, this time an away game to Scotland. The game was a dour affair, which Scotland controlled through-out. The game was decided by a long range drop goal from Scotland's Malcolm Cross
Malcolm Cross
Malcolm Cross was a Scottish rugby union player.He was capped nine times for between 1875-80. He also played for Merchistonians.He was the brother of William Cross who was also capped for Scotland, and who scored the first ever conversion in international rugby.-References:* Bath, Richard The...
, and Touzel never represented his country again. Despite the end of his international career, Touzel continued to play rugby, representing both Liverpool
Liverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
and Blackheath F.C..