Hubert Cunliffe-Jones
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Professor Hubert Cunliffe-Jones (30 March 1905 - 3 January 1991) was an Australian-born Congregational church
minister and author
, who became Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales and a Professor
at the University of Manchester
. He was an Honorary
Doctor of Divinity
from the University of Edinburgh
.
, the son of the Reverend Walter and Maud Cunliffe-Jones. His father was the minister at the Strathfield-Homebush Congregational church (now Uniting Church – Korean Parish). He was educated at Newington College
(1917–1921) and in his final year was awarded one of three Wigram Allen Scholarships. These were presented by Sir
George Wigram Allen
following a special examination in March of each year, for classics, mathematics and general proficiency. In 1921, Cunliffe-Jones received the scholarship in classics and William Morrow for general proficiency. In 1922, he went up to the University of Sydney
from whence he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts
in 1925. He then studied theology at Camden College
, Glebe
, and was ordained. Cunliffe-Jones married Maude Edith Clifton in 1933.
and read theology
at Mansfield
, the then Nonconformist
college of the University of Oxford
. After parish work in Witney he became a tutor in systematic theology
at Yorkshire United Independent College, Bradford
. In 1947 he became Principal of Yorkshire. Eleven years later, in 1958, Cunliffe-Jones was appointed Associate Principal of the Northern Congregational College
in Manchester
whilst lecturing at the University of Manchester
. In 1966 he was made Professor, History of Doctrine, at Manchester University and from 1968 until 1973 he was Professor of Theology. Following his retirement, Cunliffe-jones was Professor Emeritus. After his wife Maude died on 28th August 1989 Cunliffe-Jones lived with Margaret, his elder daughter, at her home in Essex. He died in 1991, survived by two daughters and two sons.
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, who became Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales and a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
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 was an Honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Early life
Cunliffe-Jones was born at Strathfield, New South WalesStrathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
, the son of the Reverend Walter and Maud Cunliffe-Jones. His father was the minister at the Strathfield-Homebush Congregational church (now Uniting Church – Korean Parish). He was educated at Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1917–1921) and in his final year was awarded one of three Wigram Allen Scholarships. These were presented by Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
George Wigram Allen
George Wigram Allen
Sir George Wigram Allen KCMG was an Australian politician and philanthropist. He was Speaker in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 1875–1883....
following a special examination in March of each year, for classics, mathematics and general proficiency. In 1921, Cunliffe-Jones received the scholarship in classics and William Morrow for general proficiency. In 1922, he went up to the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
from whence he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts
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 1925. He then studied theology at Camden College
Camden College (Congregational Church school)
Camden College was an independent, Congregational Union of Australia, day and boarding school for boys and theological college for the training of Christian ministers in Sydney from 1864 until 1974. -History:...
, Glebe
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
, and was ordained. Cunliffe-Jones married Maude Edith Clifton in 1933.
Ministry
- Minister, Warrnambool, VictoriaWarrnambool, Victoria-Cityscape:The original City of Warrnambool was a 4x8 grid, with boundaries of Lava Street , Japan Street , Merri Street and Henna Street . In the nineteenth century, it was intended that Fairy Street – with its proximity to the Warrnambool Railway Station – would be the main street of...
Congregational Church, 1928 to 1929 - Travelling Secretary, Australian Student Christian MovementAustralian Student Christian MovementThe Australian Student Christian Movement is a Christian group with an ecumenical focus working with university students.ASCM fosters liberal and progressive religious and social views and has been associated with the social gospel, Christian socialist and environmentalist movements and is...
, 1929 - 1930 - Minister, Witney, Oxfordshire Congregational Church, 1933 to 1937
- Chairman, Congregational Union of England and Wales, 1957 to 1958
Academic
In 1930, Cunliffe-Jones went to EnglandEngland
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...
and read theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Mansfield
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
, the then Nonconformist
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
college of 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...
. After parish work in Witney he became a tutor in systematic theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
at Yorkshire United Independent College, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. In 1947 he became Principal of Yorkshire. Eleven years later, in 1958, Cunliffe-Jones was appointed Associate Principal of the Northern Congregational College
G.M.B. National College
The British Muslim Heritage Centre, formerly the GMB National College, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester is an early Gothic Revival building. The centre was designated a Grade II* listed building on 3 October 1974.-History and description:...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
whilst lecturing 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...
. In 1966 he was made Professor, History of Doctrine, at Manchester University and from 1968 until 1973 he was Professor of Theology. Following his retirement, Cunliffe-jones was Professor Emeritus. After his wife Maude died on 28th August 1989 Cunliffe-Jones lived with Margaret, his elder daughter, at her home in Essex. He died in 1991, survived by two daughters and two sons.
Publications
- The Holy Spirit (London, Independent Press) 1943
- The authority of the biblical revelation (London, Clarke) 1945
- The authority of the biblical revelation (Boston, Pilgrim Press) 1948
- Deuteronomy: introduction and commentary (London, SCM Press) 1951
- Technology, community and church (London, Independent Press) 1961
- Christian theology since 1600 (London, Duckworth) 1970