Hugh McNeile
Encyclopedia
Hugh McNeile (July 18, 1795 - January 28, 1879), was an Anglican
churchman in Ireland
.
The younger son of Alexander McNeile (or McNeill), he was born at Ballycastle, County Antrim
. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin
, in 1810. His good looks and his promise of exceptional gifts of oratory, led a wealthy uncle Major-General Daniel McNeill, to adopt him as his heir; and he was destined for a parliamentary career. During a stay at Florence
, Hugh McNeile became temporarily intimate with Lord Byron and Madame de Staël. On returning home, he decided to abandon the prospect of a political career for the church, and was disinherited. In 1820, he was ordained, and having been curate at Stranorlar
, County Donegal
, for two years, was appointed to the living of Albury, Surrey
, by Henry Drummond
.
McNeile married, in 1822, Anne, daughter of William Magee, archbishop of Dublin
, and aunt of William Connor Magee
, archbishop of York
, by whom he had a large family.
Edward Irving
tried to draw McNeile into agreement with his doctrine and aims, but Irving's increasing extravagance soon alienated McNeile. McNeile's preaching now attracted much attention; in London he frequently was heard by large congregations. In 1834 he accepted the parish of St Jude's, Liverpool
, where for the next thirty years he wielded great-political as well as ecclesiastical influence. He repudiated the notion that a clergyman should be debarred from politics, maintaining at a public meeting that "God when He made the minister did not unmake the citizen." In 1835, McNeile entered a long dispute, in which he was eventually successful, with the Liverpool corporation, which had been captured by the Whigs
, after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act. A proposal was carried that the elementary school
s under the control of the corporation should be secularized by the introduction of what was known as the Irish National System. The threatened withdrawal of the Bible
as the basis of denominational religious teaching was met by a fierce agitation led by McNeile, who so successfully enlisted public support that before the new system could be introduced every child was provided for in new Church of England
schools established by public subscriptions.
At the same time, he conducted a campaign that gradually reduced the Whig element in the council until it virtually disappeared in 1841. The defeat of the Liberal parliamentary candidates in the general election of 1837, followed by a long period of Conservative
predominance in Liverpool politics, was largely due to his influence. McNeile had the Irish Evangelical Anglican's horror of Roman Catholicism, which he constantly denounced in the pulpit and on the platform; and Thomas Macaulay, speaking in the House of Commons
on the Maynooth Endowment Bill in April 1845, s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Maynooth College attacked him as the most powerful representative of uncompromising Protestant opinion in the country.
As the Tractarian movement in the Church of England developed, he became one of its most zealous opponents and the most conspicuous leader of the evangelical party. In 1840, he published a volume of Lectures on the Church of England, and in 1846 (the year after Newman's secession to Rome), the Church and the Churches, in which he maintained with much dialectical skill the evangelical doctrine of the "invisible Church" in opposition to the teaching of Newman and Pusey
.
Hugh McNeile was in close sympathy with the philanthropic work as well as the religious views of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who tried hard to persuade Lord Palmerston
to make him a bishop; but although Palmerston usually followed the advice of Shaftesbury in the appointment of bishops, he would not consent to the elevation to the House of Lords
of so powerful a political opponent as McNeile, whom Lord John Russell
had accused of frustrating the education policy of the Liberal Party
for thirty years. In 1860, he was appointed a canon of Chester
; and in 1868 Disraeli appointed him dean of Ripon. He resigned in 1875, and lived in retirement at Bournemouth
till his death.
Although a vehement controversialist, Hugh McNeile was a man of simple and sincere piety of character. In his June 1905 article on The Religious Life of Liverpool, Sir Edward Russell, an opponent of both his religious and political opinions, bore witness to the deep spirituality of his teaching, and describes him as an absolutely unique personality:
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
churchman in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The younger son of Alexander McNeile (or McNeill), he was born at Ballycastle, County Antrim
Ballycastle, County Antrim
Ballycastle is a small town in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its population was 5,089 people in the 2001 Census. It is the seat and main settlement of Moyle District Council....
. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, in 1810. His good looks and his promise of exceptional gifts of oratory, led a wealthy uncle Major-General Daniel McNeill, to adopt him as his heir; and he was destined for a parliamentary career. During a stay at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Hugh McNeile became temporarily intimate with Lord Byron and Madame de Staël. On returning home, he decided to abandon the prospect of a political career for the church, and was disinherited. In 1820, he was ordained, and having been curate at Stranorlar
Stranorlar
Stranorlar is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey form the Twin Towns.-Transport:...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, for two years, was appointed to the living of Albury, Surrey
Albury, Surrey
Albury is a village and civil parish in the borough of Guildford in Surrey, England, about south-east of Guildford town centre. The village is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest....
, by Henry Drummond
Henry Drummond
Henry Drummond was a Scottish evangelist, writer and lecturer.- Life and work :Drummond was born in Stirling. He was educated at Edinburgh University, where he displayed a strong inclination for physical and mathematical science...
.
McNeile married, in 1822, Anne, daughter of William Magee, archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland...
, and aunt of William Connor Magee
William Connor Magee
William Connor Magee was an Irish clergyman of the Anglican church, Archbishop of York for a short period in 1891.-Life:...
, archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, by whom he had a large family.
Edward Irving
Edward Irving
*For Edward Irving, the Canadian geologist, see Edward A. Irving.Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:...
tried to draw McNeile into agreement with his doctrine and aims, but Irving's increasing extravagance soon alienated McNeile. McNeile's preaching now attracted much attention; in London he frequently was heard by large congregations. In 1834 he accepted the parish of St Jude's, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, where for the next thirty years he wielded great-political as well as ecclesiastical influence. He repudiated the notion that a clergyman should be debarred from politics, maintaining at a public meeting that "God when He made the minister did not unmake the citizen." In 1835, McNeile entered a long dispute, in which he was eventually successful, with the Liverpool corporation, which had been captured by the Whigs
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...
, after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act. A proposal was carried that the elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s under the control of the corporation should be secularized by the introduction of what was known as the Irish National System. The threatened withdrawal of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
as the basis of denominational religious teaching was met by a fierce agitation led by McNeile, who so successfully enlisted public support that before the new system could be introduced every child was provided for in new 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...
schools established by public subscriptions.
At the same time, he conducted a campaign that gradually reduced the Whig element in the council until it virtually disappeared in 1841. The defeat of the Liberal parliamentary candidates in the general election of 1837, followed by a long period of Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
predominance in Liverpool politics, was largely due to his influence. McNeile had the Irish Evangelical Anglican's horror of Roman Catholicism, which he constantly denounced in the pulpit and on the platform; and Thomas Macaulay, speaking in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
on the Maynooth Endowment Bill in April 1845, s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Maynooth College attacked him as the most powerful representative of uncompromising Protestant opinion in the country.
As the Tractarian movement in the Church of England developed, he became one of its most zealous opponents and the most conspicuous leader of the evangelical party. In 1840, he published a volume of Lectures on the Church of England, and in 1846 (the year after Newman's secession to Rome), the Church and the Churches, in which he maintained with much dialectical skill the evangelical doctrine of the "invisible Church" in opposition to the teaching of Newman and 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:...
.
Hugh McNeile was in close sympathy with the philanthropic work as well as the religious views of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who tried hard to persuade Lord Palmerston
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
to make him a bishop; but although Palmerston usually followed the advice of Shaftesbury in the appointment of bishops, he would not consent to the elevation to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
of so powerful a political opponent as McNeile, whom Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
had accused of frustrating the education policy of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
for thirty years. In 1860, he was appointed a canon of Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
; and in 1868 Disraeli appointed him dean of Ripon. He resigned in 1875, and lived in retirement at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
till his death.
Although a vehement controversialist, Hugh McNeile was a man of simple and sincere piety of character. In his June 1905 article on The Religious Life of Liverpool, Sir Edward Russell, an opponent of both his religious and political opinions, bore witness to the deep spirituality of his teaching, and describes him as an absolutely unique personality: