George Lavington
Encyclopedia
George Lavington was a Bishop of Exeter
from 1746 to 1762.
Born in Mildenhall, Wiltshire
, he was educated at New College, Oxford
(becoming a fellow in 1708) and later appointed Chaplain to King George I. He served as a Prebendary
at Worcester Cathedral
. Later, he served as Weldland Prebendary at St Paul's Cathedral, London. On 8 February 1746, he was consecrated Bishop of Exeter
at Lambeth Palace
, which post he held until death. He died in Exeter
in 1762.
He was an ardent opponent of Methodism
. On being appointed bishop of Exeter, which included Cornwall
, one of his first acts was to close the pulpits of North Cornwall to Methodists. He also produced a stream of letters and pamphlets attacking Methodism
and John Wesley
. One of these pamphlets contained an accusation against John Wesley concerning his conduct with women, and in particular that he had made indecent advances to the maid of a Mrs Morgan at Mitchell in Cornwall. When Wesley investigated he found that Mrs Morgan was merely a gossip, and that Lavington had never troubled to verify the truth of the statements. Lavington also attacked George Whitfield, although their relations were better and Lavington once came with his clergy to hear Whitfield preach.
A portrait painting of Lavington from the early 1760s by Thomas Gainsborough
survives.
An epitaph by Subdean Barton survives on a tablet behind the sedilia in the south aisle of Exeter Cathedral
, describing him as a pattern for Christian bishops.
, London
and had at least 3 children by her:
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
from 1746 to 1762.
Born in Mildenhall, Wiltshire
Mildenhall, Wiltshire
Mildenhall is a village and civil parish in the Kennet Valley in Wiltshire about east of the market town of Marlborough.-History:The toponym is derived from the Old English but the site has been occupied since the Roman occupation of Britain, when the fortress town of Cunetio stood at an...
, he was educated at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
(becoming a fellow in 1708) and later appointed Chaplain to King George I. He served as a Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
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...
. Later, he served as Weldland Prebendary at St Paul's Cathedral, London. On 8 February 1746, he was consecrated Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
at Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
, which post he held until death. He died in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in 1762.
He was an ardent opponent of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
. On being appointed bishop of Exeter, which included Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, one of his first acts was to close the pulpits of North Cornwall to Methodists. He also produced a stream of letters and pamphlets attacking Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. One of these pamphlets contained an accusation against John Wesley concerning his conduct with women, and in particular that he had made indecent advances to the maid of a Mrs Morgan at Mitchell in Cornwall. When Wesley investigated he found that Mrs Morgan was merely a gossip, and that Lavington had never troubled to verify the truth of the statements. Lavington also attacked George Whitfield, although their relations were better and Lavington once came with his clergy to hear Whitfield preach.
A portrait painting of Lavington from the early 1760s by Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
survives.
An epitaph by Subdean Barton survives on a tablet behind the sedilia in the south aisle of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
, describing him as a pattern for Christian bishops.
Family
He married Frances Mary Lavie on 20 June 1722 at St Benet's ChurchSt Benet Paul's Wharf
The Church of St Benet Paul's Wharf is the Welsh church of the City of London. Since 1555, it has also been the church of the College of Arms, and many officers of arms are buried there. The current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.-History:...
, London
London
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...
and had at least 3 children by her:
- George Lavington (bapt 14 April 1723 Worcester Cathedral)
- Margaret Frances Lavington (bapt 30 April 1724 Worcester Cathedral)
- Anne Lavington (bapt 11 April 1730 Worcester Cathderal), who married Nutcombe Quicke (1727–1810), the Chancellor of Exeter Cathedral
- Jonathan Lavington (bapt 12 November 1988 Portsmouth Cathedral), who married [Westminster Abbey] (2011) Imogen Bexfield.