Ernest Gordon Rupp
Encyclopedia
Ernest Gordon Rupp,. was a Methodist preacher
, historian
and Luther
scholar.
. He studied history at King's College London
, theology at Cambridge's
Wesley House, and in Strasbourg
and Basel
during 1936-37.
and Chislehurst, England (southeast London). He came to public notice in 1945 when he challenged the charge that Martin Luther was the spiritual ancestor of Hitler. The charge was made by Peter F. Wiener in a widely distributed pamphlet, Martin Luther: Hitler's Spiritual Ancestor.http://www.tentmaker.org/books/MartinLuther-HitlersSpiritualAncestor.html
In 1946, Rupp served as the assistant to the Principle of Wesley House. In 1947, he was appointed assistant professor at Richmond College.
Rupp participated in the reconstruction efforts of the World Council of Churches
in Europe. In 1947, he visited Berlin
, Nuremberg
, Stuttgart
, Heidelberg
, Frankfurt
, Hamburg
, Bremen and Delmenhorst
. During this time, he lectured at the conference of the Methodist church of Northwest Germany.
After his tenure at Richmond (1947–1952), he served at Wesley House
in Cambridge. In 1956, he was appointed professor of Church History at the University of Manchester
. He lectured there until 1967, when he returned to Wesley House in Cambridge as its Principal. At the same time (1968–1977) he served as Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History
at the University of Cambridge
. 1969, he served as the president of the British Methodist church.
Rupp received Honorary doctorates from Cambridge, University of Aberdeen
, University of Manchester
and University of Paris
, and was appointed as a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1970.
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
scholar.
Early life and education
Rupp attended Owen's School in Islington area of LondonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. He studied history at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, theology at Cambridge's
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
Wesley House, and in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
during 1936-37.
Ministry
From 1938-1946 he served as a Methodist minister in New ElthamNew Eltham
New Eltham is a commuter suburb in the London Borough of Greenwich, England, although the Dulverton catchment area to the North side of Footscray Road falls within the London Borough of Bexley....
and Chislehurst, England (southeast London). He came to public notice in 1945 when he challenged the charge that Martin Luther was the spiritual ancestor of Hitler. The charge was made by Peter F. Wiener in a widely distributed pamphlet, Martin Luther: Hitler's Spiritual Ancestor.http://www.tentmaker.org/books/MartinLuther-HitlersSpiritualAncestor.html
In 1946, Rupp served as the assistant to the Principle of Wesley House. In 1947, he was appointed assistant professor at Richmond College.
Rupp participated in the reconstruction efforts of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in Europe. In 1947, he visited Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Bremen and Delmenhorst
Delmenhorst
Delmenhorst is an urban district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of 74,500 and is located 10 km/6 miles west of downtown Bremen with which it forms a contiguous urban area, whereas the city of Oldenburg is 25 km/15 miles to the northwest. The city has a total area of 62.36 km²...
. During this time, he lectured at the conference of the Methodist church of Northwest Germany.
After his tenure at Richmond (1947–1952), he served at Wesley House
Wesley House
Wesley House is a Methodist theological college on Jesus Lane in Cambridge, England. It was founded in 1921 as a base for training Methodist ministers within the precincts of the University of Cambridge...
in Cambridge. In 1956, he was appointed professor of Church History at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. He lectured there until 1967, when he returned to Wesley House in Cambridge as its Principal. At the same time (1968–1977) he served as Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History
Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History
The Dixie Professorship of Ecclesiastical History is one of the senior professorships in history at the University of Cambridge.Lord Mayor of London in the 16th century, Sir Wolstan Dixie, left funds to found both scholarships and fellowships at Emmanuel College, Cambridge...
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...
. 1969, he served as the president of the British Methodist church.
Rupp received Honorary doctorates from Cambridge, University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, and was appointed as a Fellow of 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...
in 1970.
Works by Gordon Rupp
- Holy Book and holy tradition: International colloquium held in the Faculty of Theology, University of Manchester. ed. F.F.Bruce & E. Gordon Rupp. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press, 1968.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. "I seek my brethren:" Bishop Bell and the German Churches. London: Epworth, 1975.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Is this a Christian Country?, 1941.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Luther's progress to the Diet of Worms, 1521.NL: NP, 1951.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. The King of Glory: Studies in St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians London: Epworth Press, 1940.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Martin Luther, Hitler's Cause or Cure? London and Redhill, Lutterworth press, 1945.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Religion in England 1688 - 1791. London : S.C.M. Press, 1975.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. The Righteousness of God: Luther studies., London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1953.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Study in the making of the English Protestant Tradition, Mainly into the Reign of Henry VIII. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press,, 1947.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Thomas More: the King's good servant, New York : Collins, 1978.
- Rupp, E. Gordon. Principalities and Powers: Studies in the Christian Conflict in History, London: Epworth, 1952.