John Chapman OSB
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Dom
John Chapman OSB (1865 – 7 November 1933), received into the Roman Catholic Church
at the age of 25, was a Roman Catholic priest, the 4th Abbot
of Downside Abbey
of the English Benedictine Congregation
from 1929 until his death, an internationally respected New Testament
and patristics
scholar, a defender of the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew, and a spiritual writer enjoying enduring appreciation.
of Ely Cathedral
, he was educated privately and at Christ Church, Oxford
, where he received a first class degree in Classical Greats
.
He was ordained deacon
in the Anglican Church in 1889.
He subsequently entered the Benedictine Maredsous Abbey
in Belgium, where he made his religious profession
in 1895, taking the name of John.
After his priestly ordination
in 1895, he went to Erdington Abbey
, near Birmingham, where he stayed until 1912, serving the community as novice master and later as prior
, but also frequently visiting the library of St Mary's College
in nearby Oscott.
In 1913, Chapman was made temporary superior of the Caldey island community (now based at Prinknash Abbey
), when it entered the Roman Catholic Church in 1913-14.
On the outbreak of World War I (1914–1918), he became army chaplain
to the British forces.
, where in 1929 the community elected him Abbot. As 4th Abbot of Downside, during his short term of four years, cut short by his death on 7 November 1933, he carried on the work of Abbots Cuthbert Butler
and Leander Ramsay. He completed the transformation of Downside into a modern abbey in the mainstream of the Benedictine
tradition and in 1933 became the founder of Worth Priory, since 1957 Worth Abbey
, when he bought the property, then called Paddockhurst, from Viscount Cowdray.
. However, he did not only read both Greek and Latin with the greatest facility, but also read and wrote French, Italian and German with similar ease. Many of his contributions to biblical scholarship and patristics have proved of lasting value, especially his work on St Cyprian, St John the Presbyter (of Papias)
, and on the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew that, so Chapman argued in support of the early Church tradition, was the first Gospel account to have been written (see also Synoptic Problem).
Among the novices that Chapman clothed in the monastic habit
was in 1932 John Bernard Orchard
, who soon felt drawn to follow his Abbot into researching the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew in the light of the patristic evidence, and eventually, after also constructing a synopsis of the four Gospel accounts in Greek and English for the easier study of the compositional sequence Matthew-Luke-Mark-John that is supported by certain early Christian writers, produced what by hindsight may be considered a synthesis of his and his mentor's insights.
. His writings remain of perennial value, especially his Spiritual Letters. An oft quoted advice of his was: "Pray as you can, not as you cannot!".
The above article has been reproduced here for free use with the permission of the copyright holder who published an earlier version of it in The Chapter (ed. Clare Anderson, ISSN 1353-8659).
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
John Chapman OSB (1865 – 7 November 1933), received into the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
at the age of 25, was a Roman Catholic priest, the 4th Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Downside Abbey
Downside Abbey
The Basilica of St Gregory the Great at Downside, commonly known as Downside Abbey, is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery and the Senior House of the English Benedictine Congregation. One of its main apostolates is a school for children aged nine to eighteen...
of the English Benedictine Congregation
English Benedictine Congregation
The English Benedictine Congregation comprises autonomous Roman Catholic Benedictine communities of monks and nuns and is technically the oldest of the 21 congregations that are affiliated in the Benedictine Confederation....
from 1929 until his death, an internationally respected New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and patristics
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
scholar, a defender of the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew, and a spiritual writer enjoying enduring appreciation.
Anglican roots
Christened Henry Chapman, the son of an Anglican canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
, he was educated privately and at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he received a first class degree in Classical Greats
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
.
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...
in the Anglican Church in 1889.
Conversion to Catholicism
In 1890 Chapman was conditionally baptized in the Catholic Church at the Brompton Oratory.He subsequently entered the Benedictine Maredsous Abbey
Maredsous Abbey
Maredsous Abbey is a Benedictine monastery at Denée near Namur in Belgium. It is a member of the Annunciation Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation.-Foundation:...
in Belgium, where he made his religious profession
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
in 1895, taking the name of John.
After his priestly ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in 1895, he went to Erdington Abbey
Erdington Abbey
Erdington Abbey Church on Sutton Road, Erdington, Birmingham, England, is the more usual name of the grade II listed church of Saints Thomas and Edmund of Canterbury. It is the church of a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Birmingham served by the Redemptorists...
, near Birmingham, where he stayed until 1912, serving the community as novice master and later as prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
, but also frequently visiting the library of St Mary's College
St. Mary's College, Oscott
St Mary's College, Oscott, often called Oscott College, is the Roman Catholic seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England, though it admits students for the priesthood from various dioceses of England & Wales, as well as some overseas students...
in nearby Oscott.
In 1913, Chapman was made temporary superior of the Caldey island community (now based at Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham....
), when it entered the Roman Catholic Church in 1913-14.
On the outbreak of World War I (1914–1918), he became army chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the British forces.
4th Abbot of Downside
In 1919 Chapman transferred his monastic stability to Downside AbbeyDownside Abbey
The Basilica of St Gregory the Great at Downside, commonly known as Downside Abbey, is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery and the Senior House of the English Benedictine Congregation. One of its main apostolates is a school for children aged nine to eighteen...
, where in 1929 the community elected him Abbot. As 4th Abbot of Downside, during his short term of four years, cut short by his death on 7 November 1933, he carried on the work of Abbots Cuthbert Butler
Cuthbert Butler
Edward Cuthbert Butler was an English Benedictine historian, and Abbot of Downside Abbey. He is known for his history of Vatican I, and his writing on mysticism.-Works:* The Lausiac History of Palladius...
and Leander Ramsay. He completed the transformation of Downside into a modern abbey in the mainstream of the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
tradition and in 1933 became the founder of Worth Priory, since 1957 Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey
The Abbey of Our Lady, Help of Christians, commonly known as Worth Abbey, is a community of Roman Catholic monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict near Turners Hill village, in West Sussex, England....
, when he bought the property, then called Paddockhurst, from Viscount Cowdray.
New Testament and patristics scholar
John Chapman was thought by competent critics to be the greatest patristics scholar of his time. Reputedly he had read all 378 volumes of MigneMigné
Migné is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
. However, he did not only read both Greek and Latin with the greatest facility, but also read and wrote French, Italian and German with similar ease. Many of his contributions to biblical scholarship and patristics have proved of lasting value, especially his work on St Cyprian, St John the Presbyter (of Papias)
John the Presbyter
John the Presbyter is an obscure figure of the early Church who is either distinguished from or identified with the Apostle John, by some also John the Divine. He appears in fragments from the church father Papias of Hierapolis as one of the author's sources and is first unequivocally distinguished...
, and on the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew that, so Chapman argued in support of the early Church tradition, was the first Gospel account to have been written (see also Synoptic Problem).
Among the novices that Chapman clothed in the monastic habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
was in 1932 John Bernard Orchard
Bernard Orchard
Dom Bernard Orchard OSB MA was an English Roman Catholic Benedictine monk, headmaster and biblical scholar.-Early life and education:John Archibald Henslowe Orchard, the son of a farmer, was born in Bromley, Kent...
, who soon felt drawn to follow his Abbot into researching the priority of the Gospel according to Matthew in the light of the patristic evidence, and eventually, after also constructing a synopsis of the four Gospel accounts in Greek and English for the easier study of the compositional sequence Matthew-Luke-Mark-John that is supported by certain early Christian writers, produced what by hindsight may be considered a synthesis of his and his mentor's insights.
Spiritual director
In his day Chapman was a much sought-after spiritual director and authority on prayer, the spiritual life and mystical theologyMystical theology
Mystical theology is a branch of theology which treats of acts and experiences or states of the soul which cannot be produced by human effort.-Catholic tradition:...
. His writings remain of perennial value, especially his Spiritual Letters. An oft quoted advice of his was: "Pray as you can, not as you cannot!".
Man of many talents
According to his contemporaries, Chapman had a brilliant mind and was a fascinating conversationalist. He was also a talented pianist and a Christian humanist in the finest tradition.Select bibliography
- "St Irenaeus and the Dates of the Gospels", JTS 6 (1904-5): 563-9.
- Notes on the Early History of the Vulgate Gospels, Oxford 1908.
- John the Presbyter, Oxford 1911.
- "St Paul and the Revelation to St Peter", Rev. Ben. 29 (1912): 133-47.
- Studies on the Early Papacy (1928, repr. 1971).
- Spiritual Letters, posthumously, London 1935.
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke, posthumously (ed. J. M. T. Barton), London 1937.
External links
- "St. Cyprian on the Church and the Papacy" http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/num44.htm
The above article has been reproduced here for free use with the permission of the copyright holder who published an earlier version of it in The Chapter (ed. Clare Anderson, ISSN 1353-8659).