James Cameron Todd
Encyclopedia
James Cameron Todd was an Anglican
canon
and schoolmaster, who founded Michaelhouse
.
in British
Burma to a father of the same name.
His schooling took place at the Royal High School (Edinburgh)
from 1874 to 1881. He attended the University of Glasgow
from 1881 to 1884 where he graduated with a B.Sc. degree, having been a pupil of Lord Kelvin.
He moved to South Africa
, and in 1887, he was ordained deacon
by the Bishop of Bloemfontein
. He was curate of Vryburg, Bechuanaland in 1887 and curate of Kimberley, Griqualand from 1887 to 1888.
In 1888, he was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge
, having obtained a scholarship. He pursued an M.Sc. degree which he gained with first class honours, resulting in his election as Scholar of the College the following year.
In 1890, he was ordained priest in St. Paul’s Cathedral and took up the post of Curate at St John’s Hammersmith in 1891.
He moved to Natal 1894 as Chaplain to Bishop Arthur Hamilton Baynes
, became Diocesan Theological tutor (1894-1899), and was appointed Canon of Natal (1894-1904).
In 1896 he founded Michaelhouse
in Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg
. When he opened the doors on the first day in August 1896, it was as a private venture with 15 founding boys. Ten of these were boarders, and five were day boys. It is said that without Todd, Michaelhouse would never have been born.
While the school was in Pietermaritzburg, Todd worked to establish the school as the Diocesan College of Natal with its own Board of Governors. He also looked for a suitable country site to relocate the school away from the distractions of town. In 1901, the school moved to its current premises in Balgowan
.
In 1903, Todd resigned as Rector. He had ordered a piano without the approval of the board and as this was a substantial expenditure which required the boards approval a dispute ensued which culminated in Todd’s decision to leave Michaelhouse.
Todd returned to England 1904. In London, he became engaged in literary and educational work. He wrote a number of books including Politics and religion in Ancient Israel in 1904 and Undenominational religion, what does it really mean? in 1906. Although he held no ecclesiastical position, he was in great demand as a preacher among the famous London Churches, preaching at both St James Picadilly and the Temple Church.
He was sympathetic to the cause of the Suffragettes, despite opposition from the Church. At St George’s Bloomsbury, he gave a memorable sermon at the funeral of Emily Davidson.
He was owner and headmaster of Netherfields School at Crouch End London, where he met his future wife, a staff member. In 1911, he sold the school and went to Canada where he married Aileen Mary Gallaher in Montreal.
On their return to England, the couple started a preparatory school (Kelvin House, named after Lord Kelvin) in Ruislip
, London. In 1912, his first daughter Jean was born, followed in 1914 by Margaret. Todd died in 1915, at the age of 51, and is buried in Ruislip
Cemetery.
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...
canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and schoolmaster, who founded Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :...
.
Life
He was born in RangoonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
in British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Burma to a father of the same name.
His schooling took place at the Royal High School (Edinburgh)
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
from 1874 to 1881. He attended the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
from 1881 to 1884 where he graduated with a B.Sc. degree, having been a pupil of Lord Kelvin.
He moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and in 1887, he was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
by the Bishop of Bloemfontein
Anglican Diocese of the Free State
The Anglican Diocese of the Free State is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.-History:The first service North of the Orange River to be taken by an Anglican clergyman was conducted in 1850 by Robert Gray, the first Bishop of Cape Town. In 1863, Edward Twells was consecrated the...
. He was curate of Vryburg, Bechuanaland in 1887 and curate of Kimberley, Griqualand from 1887 to 1888.
In 1888, he was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, having obtained a scholarship. He pursued an M.Sc. degree which he gained with first class honours, resulting in his election as Scholar of the College the following year.
In 1890, he was ordained priest in St. Paul’s Cathedral and took up the post of Curate at St John’s Hammersmith in 1891.
He moved to Natal 1894 as Chaplain to Bishop Arthur Hamilton Baynes
Arthur Hamilton Baynes
Arthur Hamilton Baynes was a Church of England priest and Bishop of Natal from 1893 to 1901.He was the son of Joseph Ash Baynes and Mary Elizabeth Beard, and following ordination in 1882, was Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, E.W...
, became Diocesan Theological tutor (1894-1899), and was appointed Canon of Natal (1894-1904).
In 1896 he founded Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :...
in Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
. When he opened the doors on the first day in August 1896, it was as a private venture with 15 founding boys. Ten of these were boarders, and five were day boys. It is said that without Todd, Michaelhouse would never have been born.
While the school was in Pietermaritzburg, Todd worked to establish the school as the Diocesan College of Natal with its own Board of Governors. He also looked for a suitable country site to relocate the school away from the distractions of town. In 1901, the school moved to its current premises in Balgowan
Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal
Balgowan is a valley in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa.The town of Balgowan is not much more than an old trading store and a train station where locally grown timber is picked up. However, nearby is Michaelhouse, the Anglican boarding school for boys in the Diocese of Natal, an...
.
In 1903, Todd resigned as Rector. He had ordered a piano without the approval of the board and as this was a substantial expenditure which required the boards approval a dispute ensued which culminated in Todd’s decision to leave Michaelhouse.
Todd returned to England 1904. In London, he became engaged in literary and educational work. He wrote a number of books including Politics and religion in Ancient Israel in 1904 and Undenominational religion, what does it really mean? in 1906. Although he held no ecclesiastical position, he was in great demand as a preacher among the famous London Churches, preaching at both St James Picadilly and the Temple Church.
He was sympathetic to the cause of the Suffragettes, despite opposition from the Church. At St George’s Bloomsbury, he gave a memorable sermon at the funeral of Emily Davidson.
He was owner and headmaster of Netherfields School at Crouch End London, where he met his future wife, a staff member. In 1911, he sold the school and went to Canada where he married Aileen Mary Gallaher in Montreal.
On their return to England, the couple started a preparatory school (Kelvin House, named after Lord Kelvin) in Ruislip
Ruislip
Ruislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...
, London. In 1912, his first daughter Jean was born, followed in 1914 by Margaret. Todd died in 1915, at the age of 51, and is buried in Ruislip
Ruislip
Ruislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...
Cemetery.
Sources
- Barrett Letters. Michaelhouse Archieves. Balgowan.
- S. Michael's Chronicle, (1983). Pietermaritzburg: Natal Witness.