Charles Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax
Encyclopedia
Charles Lindley Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax (7 June 1839 – 19 January 1934) was a British ecumenist who served as president of the English Church Union from 1868 to 1919, and from 1927 to 1934.
; the eldest son of Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax
, a prominent Whig
politician
, and Lady Mary, the fifth daughter of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
. As a student at Eton
he was the favourite of William Johnson Cory
, his Master, who dedicated his book of Uranian
verse, Ionica, to him. Between 1858 and 1863, he studied law and modern history at Christ Church, Oxford
.
, and at the request of Edward Bouverie Pusey
, became president of the English Church Union, a society dedicated to the promotion of Catholic principles and practices within the Church of England
, in 1868. Along with the Abbe Ferdinand Portal he played a prominent role in the attempt to bring about dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church
and the Church of England
on the subject of Anglican Orders. Due to what only can viewed as a form of obstructionism between Canterbury and Westminster, no constructive dialogue ever came about, however, and the unhoped for result of Halifax's actions was the condemnation of Anglican Orders as "absolutely null and utterly void" in the Papal Encyclical Apostolicae Curae
. Benson and then-Cardinal of Westminster, Herbert Vaughan, can be accused of letting this early attempt at reapproachment fall away due to the narrow-minded vision of each other's place in the English Church during that era. It might also be argued that Pope Leo XIII was let astray by Vaughan and like-minded Roman Catholic scholars who viewed the Church of England
as a state church with no real theological authority. Benson, like most Anglican clergy in the power structure viewed any Roman Catholic involvement in England as the "Italian Mission", with not even a toehold worth acknowledging in English Society.
Halifax served as president of the English Church Union until 1919, and again from 1927 until his death. One of his last achievements was the union of the English Church Union with the Anglo-Catholic Congress in 1933.
(ISBN 1-55521-123-2) and The Ghost Book of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax (ISBN 978-0-7867-0151-3).
Halifax married Lady Agnes Elizabeth Courtenay, daughter of William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Fortescue, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue
. They had four sons and two daughters. Their fourth son, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood
, succeeded to his father's viscountcy and was created Earl of Halifax
after serving as Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and British Ambassador to the United States.
Early life and education
Halifax was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; the eldest son of Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax
Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax
Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax GCB PC , known as Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Bt between 1846 and 1866, was a British Whig politician and Member of Parliament. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1846 to 1852....
, a prominent Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and Lady Mary, the fifth daughter of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
. As a student at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
he was the favourite of William Johnson Cory
William Johnson Cory
William Johnson Cory , born William Johnson, was an educator and poet, born at Torrington, and educated at Eton, where he was afterwards a renowned master, nicknamed Tute by his pupils...
, his Master, who dedicated his book of Uranian
Uranian
frame|right|From [[John Addington Symonds]]' 1891 book A Problem in Modern Ethics.Uranian is a 19th century term that referred to a person of a third sex — originally, someone with "a female psyche in a male body" who is sexually attracted to men, and later extended to cover homosexual gender...
verse, Ionica, to him. Between 1858 and 1863, he studied law and modern history at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
English Church Union
An Anglo-Catholic, Halifax became influenced by the Oxford MovementOxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, and at the request of Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
, became president of the English Church Union, a society dedicated to the promotion of Catholic principles and practices within 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 1868. Along with the Abbe Ferdinand Portal he played a prominent role in the attempt to bring about dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and 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...
on the subject of Anglican Orders. Due to what only can viewed as a form of obstructionism between Canterbury and Westminster, no constructive dialogue ever came about, however, and the unhoped for result of Halifax's actions was the condemnation of Anglican Orders as "absolutely null and utterly void" in the Papal Encyclical Apostolicae Curae
Apostolicae Curae
Apostolicae Curae is the title of a papal bull, issued in 1896 by Pope Leo XIII, declaring all Anglican ordinations to be "absolutely null and utterly void"...
. Benson and then-Cardinal of Westminster, Herbert Vaughan, can be accused of letting this early attempt at reapproachment fall away due to the narrow-minded vision of each other's place in the English Church during that era. It might also be argued that Pope Leo XIII was let astray by Vaughan and like-minded Roman Catholic scholars who viewed 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...
as a state church with no real theological authority. Benson, like most Anglican clergy in the power structure viewed any Roman Catholic involvement in England as the "Italian Mission", with not even a toehold worth acknowledging in English Society.
Halifax served as president of the English Church Union until 1919, and again from 1927 until his death. One of his last achievements was the union of the English Church Union with the Anglo-Catholic Congress in 1933.
Personal life
Halifax was a collector of ghost stories, many of which are to be found in Lord Halifax's Complete Ghost BookLord Halifax's Complete Ghost Book
Lord Halifax's Complete Ghost Book is a collection of stories of haunted houses, apparitions and supernatural occurrences made by Charles Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax.-Contents:*"The Harper of Inverary"*"The Man in the Iron Cage"...
(ISBN 1-55521-123-2) and The Ghost Book of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax (ISBN 978-0-7867-0151-3).
Halifax married Lady Agnes Elizabeth Courtenay, daughter of William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
William Reginald Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon PC , styled Lord Courtenay between 1835 and 1859, was a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1866 to 1867 and as President of the Poor Law Board from 1867 to 1868.-Background and education:Devon was the eldest son...
and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Fortescue, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue
Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue
Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue was a British peer, the son of Matthew Fortescue, 2nd Baron Fortescue, younger half-brother of an earlier Hugh Fortescue , 1st Baron Fortescue, 14th Baron Clinton and 1st Earl Clinton.He married Hester Grenville , daughter of George Grenville, on 10 May 1782...
. They had four sons and two daughters. Their fourth son, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, , known as The Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and as The Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was one of the most senior British Conservative politicians of the 1930s, during which he held several senior ministerial posts, most notably as...
, succeeded to his father's viscountcy and was created Earl of Halifax
Earl of Halifax
Earl of Halifax is a title that has been created four times in British history, once in the Peerage of England, twice in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The name of the peerage refers to Halifax, West Yorkshire....
after serving as Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and British Ambassador to the United States.