Peter Thomson (priest)
Encyclopedia
Peter Thomson was an Australian Anglican priest, best known for influencing Tony Blair
, the future British Prime Minister
, while they were both at St John's College, Oxford
. He also influenced Geoff Gallop
, who later became Premier of Western Australia
. His thought was deeply influenced by the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray
.
Thomson studied for the priesthood at Ridley College, an Evangelical
theological college in Melbourne, but became more radical in his Christianity and became passionate about politics as a way for Christians to achieve their social objectives.
After several jobs, Thomson attended Oxford to study for two years, where a group of undergraduates gathered around him and were influenced by his approach to politics. This group included both Blair and Gallop. Blair has stated that Thomson awakened his concern for a Christian approach to left wing politics.
Thomson became a Quaker towards the end of his life.
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, the future British Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, while they were both at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
. He also influenced Geoff Gallop
Geoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
, who later became Premier of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. His thought was deeply influenced by the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray
John Macmurray
John Macmurray MC was a Scottish philosopher. His thought moved beyond the modern tradition begun by Descartes and continued in Britain by Locke, Berkeley and Hume. He made contributions in the fields of political science, religion, and philosophy of education in a long career of writing,...
.
Thomson studied for the priesthood at Ridley College, an Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
theological college in Melbourne, but became more radical in his Christianity and became passionate about politics as a way for Christians to achieve their social objectives.
After several jobs, Thomson attended Oxford to study for two years, where a group of undergraduates gathered around him and were influenced by his approach to politics. This group included both Blair and Gallop. Blair has stated that Thomson awakened his concern for a Christian approach to left wing politics.
Thomson became a Quaker towards the end of his life.
External links
- Indigenous Stock Exchange: People – Peter Thomson
- Obituary from Melbourne Anglican diocese