Henry Handley Norris
Encyclopedia
Henry Handley Norris was an English clergyman and theologian. He was the clerical leader of the High Church
grouping later known as the Hackney Phalanx, that grew up around him and his friend Joshua Watson
.
, where he graduated B.A. 1797, M.A. 1806, he was admitted ad eundem at the University of Oxford
on 23 January 1817.
In 1806 a chapel of ease
was built by subscription in Hackney parish, now the Church of St John-at-Hackney
. Norris contributed to the cost, and in 1809, on becoming the perpetual curate
of the chapel, made over to trustees a fee-farm rent of £21 a year as an endowment; he also erected at his own expense a minister's residence in Well Street. In 1831 the perpetual curacy became a rectory, and in this incumbency Norris remained till his death.
His influence in the religious world was far-reaching. He came to be known as the head of the high church party, and Hackney was regarded as the rival and counterpoise of the evangelical school or Clapham sect
. It was rumoured, baselessly that during Lord Liverpool's long premiership every see that fell vacant was offered to Norris, with the request that if he would not take it himself, he would recommend some one else; so he had the nickname "the Bishop-maker". From 1793 to 1834, as a member of the committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, he largely ruled its proceedings; but in 1834 there was a revolt against his management, and he was left in a minority.
He became a prebendary of Llandaff Cathedral
on 22 November 1816, and a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral
on 4 November 1825. Inheriting from his father an ample fortune, he was able to aid many students in their university and professional careers. Norris died at Grove Street, Hackney, on 4 December 1850.
(1813) and William Dealtry
(1815).
His other writings were:
.
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
grouping later known as the Hackney Phalanx, that grew up around him and his friend Joshua Watson
Joshua Watson
Joshua Watson was an English wine merchant, philanthropist, a prominent member of the high church party and of several charitable organizations, who became known as "the best layman in England".-Life:...
.
Life
The son of Henry Handley Norris of Hackney, by Grace, daughter of the Rev. T. Hest of Warton, Lancashire, he was born at Hackney on 14 January 1771. Educated at Peterhouse, CambridgePeterhouse, 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...
, where he graduated B.A. 1797, M.A. 1806, he was admitted ad eundem at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
on 23 January 1817.
In 1806 a chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
was built by subscription in Hackney parish, now the Church of St John-at-Hackney
Church of St John-at-Hackney
The Church of St John at Hackney is situated in the London Borough of Hackney. It was built in 1792, in an open field, north east of Hackney's medieval parish church, of which only St Augustine's Tower remains...
. Norris contributed to the cost, and in 1809, on becoming the perpetual curate
Perpetual curate
A Perpetual Curate was a clergyman of the Church of England officiating as parish priest in a small or sparsely peopled parish or districtAs noted below the term perpetual was not to be understood literally but was used to indicate he was not a curate but the parish priest and of higher...
of the chapel, made over to trustees a fee-farm rent of £21 a year as an endowment; he also erected at his own expense a minister's residence in Well Street. In 1831 the perpetual curacy became a rectory, and in this incumbency Norris remained till his death.
His influence in the religious world was far-reaching. He came to be known as the head of the high church party, and Hackney was regarded as the rival and counterpoise of the evangelical school or Clapham sect
Clapham Sect
The Clapham Sect or Clapham Saints were a group of influential like-minded Church of England social reformers based in Clapham, London at the beginning of the 19th century...
. It was rumoured, baselessly that during Lord Liverpool's long premiership every see that fell vacant was offered to Norris, with the request that if he would not take it himself, he would recommend some one else; so he had the nickname "the Bishop-maker". From 1793 to 1834, as a member of the committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, he largely ruled its proceedings; but in 1834 there was a revolt against his management, and he was left in a minority.
He became a prebendary of Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
on 22 November 1816, and a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
on 4 November 1825. Inheriting from his father an ample fortune, he was able to aid many students in their university and professional careers. Norris died at Grove Street, Hackney, on 4 December 1850.
Works
Norris's best known work is A Practical Exposition of the Tendency and Proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in a Correspondence between the Rev. H. H. Norris and J. W. Freshfield, Esq., 1813; with an Appendix, 1814; 2nd edit. 1814. This correspondence arose from an attempt made by James William Freshfield (1801–1857) to form an Auxiliary Bible Society in Hackney, to which Norris strongly objected. A pamphlet war arose, and among the controversialists were Robert AsplandRobert Aspland
Robert Aspland was an English Unitarian minister, editor and activist. To be distinguished from his son Robert Brook Aspland .-Life:...
(1813) and William Dealtry
William Dealtry
William Dealtry was an English clergyman of evangelical views, who became archdeacon of Surrey and a Fellow of the Royal Society.-Life:...
(1815).
His other writings were:
- ‘A Respectful Letter to the Earl of Liverpool, occasioned by the Speech imputed to his Lordship at the Isle of Thanet Bible Society Meeting,’ 1822.
- ‘A Vindication of a Respectful Letter to the Earl of Liverpool,’ 1823. These two works also gave rise to rejoinders by Schofield in 1822 and Paterson in 1823.
- ‘The Origin, Progress, and Existing Circumstances of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews,’ 1825.
- ‘The Principles of the Jesuits developed in a Collection of Extracts from their own Authors,’ 1839.
- ‘A Pastor's Legacy: or Instructions for Confirmation,’ 1851.
Family
On 19 June 1805 he married Henrietta Catherine, daughter of David Powell, by whom he had a son, Henry, born on 28 February 1810, formerly of Swancliffe Park, OxfordshireOxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.