Richard Chenevix Trench
Encyclopedia
Richard Chenevix Trench (Richard Trench until 1873; 9 September 1807–28 March 1886) was an Anglican archbishop
and poet
.
, son of the Dublin writer Melesina Trench
, his elder brother was Francis Chenevix Trench
. He went to school at Harrow
, and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1829. In 1830 he visited Spain
. While incumbent of Curdridge Chapel near Bishop's Waltham
in Hampshire
, he published (1835) The Story of Justin Martyr and Other Poems, which was favourably received, and was followed in 1838 by Sabbation, Honor Neale, and other Poems, and in 1842 by Poems from Eastern Sources. These volumes revealed the author as the most gifted of the immediate disciples of Wordsworth
, with a warmer colouring and more pronounced ecclesiastical sympathies than the master, and strong affinities to Alfred Lord Tennyson, John Keble
and Richard Monckton Milnes.
In 1841 he resigned his living to become curate to Samuel Wilberforce
, then rector of Alverstoke
, and upon Wilberforce's promotion to the deanery of Westminster Abbey
in 1845 he was presented to the rectory of Itchenstoke. In 1845 and 1846 he preached the Hulsean
lecture, and in the former year was made examining chaplain to Wilberforce, now Bishop of Oxford. He was shortly afterwards appointed to a theological chair at King's College London
.
In 1851 he established his fame as a philologist by The Study of Words, originally delivered as lectures to the pupils of the Diocesan Training School, Winchester. His purpose, as stated by himself, was to show that in words, even taken singly, "there are boundless stores of moral and historic truth, and no less of passion and imagination laid up"—a truth enforced by a number of most apposite illustrations. It was followed by two little volumes of similar character—English Past and Present (1855) and A Select Glossary of English Words (1859). All have gone through numerous editions and have contributed much to promote the historical study of the English tongue. Another great service to English philology was rendered by his paper, read before the Philological Society
, On some Deficiencies in our English Dictionaries (1857), which gave the first impulse to the great Oxford English Dictionary
. His advocacy of a revised translation of the New Testament
(1858) helped promote another great national project. In 1856 he published a valuable essay on Calderón
, with a translation of a portion of Life is a Dream in the original metre. In 1841 he had published his Notes on the Parables of our Lord, and in 1846 his Notes on the Miracles, popular works which are treasuries of erudite and acute illustration.
In 1856 Trench became Dean of Westminster Abbey
, a position which suited him. Here he introduced evening nave
services. In January 1864 he was advanced to the post of Archbishop of Dublin
. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
had been first choice, but was rejected by the Irish Church
, and, according to Bishop Wilberforce's correspondence, Trench's appointment was favoured neither by the prime minister nor the lord-lieutenant. It was, moreover, unpopular in Ireland, and a blow to English literature
; yet it turned out to be fortunate. Trench could not prevent the disestablishment of the Irish Church, though he resisted with dignity. But, when the disestablished
communion had to be reconstituted under the greatest difficulties, it was important that the occupant of his position should be a man of a liberal and genial spirit.
This was the work of the remainder of Trench's life; it exposed him at times to considerable abuse, but he came to be appreciated, and, when in November 1884 he resigned his archbishopric because of poor health, clergy and laity unanimously recorded their sense of his "wisdom, learning, diligence, and munificence." He had found time for Lectures on Medieval Church History (1878); his poetical works were rearranged and collected in two volumes (last edition, 1885). He died in London
, after a lingering illness.
From 1872 and during his successor's incumbency the post of Dean of Christ Church, Dublin was held with the archbishopric.
See his Letters and Memorials (2 vols., 1886).
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life
He was born at Dublin, in IrelandIreland
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...
, son of the Dublin writer Melesina Trench
Melesina Trench
Melesina Trench was an Irish writer, poet and diarist. Melesina Chenevix was born in Dublin, daughter of Philip Chenevix and Mary Elizabeth Gervais. She was orphaned before her fourth birthday and brought up by her grandfather, Richard Chenevix who was the Bishop of Waterford...
, his elder brother was Francis Chenevix Trench
Francis Chenevix Trench
Francis Chenevix Trench was an English divine and author.Francis, born in 1805, was the eldest son of Richard Trench , barrister-at-law, by his wife Melesina Trench, Richard Chenevix Trench was his younger brother. Francis entered Harrow school early in 1818, and matriculated from Oriel College,...
. He went to school at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1829. In 1830 he visited Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. While incumbent of Curdridge Chapel near Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham is a small town in Hampshire, England situated at the head of the River Hamble. It is home to the ruins of Bishop's Waltham Palace, an English Heritage monument.-History:...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, he published (1835) The Story of Justin Martyr and Other Poems, which was favourably received, and was followed in 1838 by Sabbation, Honor Neale, and other Poems, and in 1842 by Poems from Eastern Sources. These volumes revealed the author as the most gifted of the immediate disciples of Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
, with a warmer colouring and more pronounced ecclesiastical sympathies than the master, and strong affinities to Alfred Lord Tennyson, John Keble
John Keble
John Keble was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, and gave his name to Keble College, Oxford.-Early life:...
and Richard Monckton Milnes.
In 1841 he resigned his living to become curate to Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
, then rector of Alverstoke
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, and upon Wilberforce's promotion to the deanery of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in 1845 he was presented to the rectory of Itchenstoke. In 1845 and 1846 he preached the Hulsean
John Hulse
John Hulse was an English clergyman. He is now known mainly as the founder of the series of Hulsean Lectures at the University of Cambridge.-Life:...
lecture, and in the former year was made examining chaplain to Wilberforce, now Bishop of Oxford. He was shortly afterwards appointed to a theological chair at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
In 1851 he established his fame as a philologist by The Study of Words, originally delivered as lectures to the pupils of the Diocesan Training School, Winchester. His purpose, as stated by himself, was to show that in words, even taken singly, "there are boundless stores of moral and historic truth, and no less of passion and imagination laid up"—a truth enforced by a number of most apposite illustrations. It was followed by two little volumes of similar character—English Past and Present (1855) and A Select Glossary of English Words (1859). All have gone through numerous editions and have contributed much to promote the historical study of the English tongue. Another great service to English philology was rendered by his paper, read before the Philological Society
Philological Society
The Philological Society, or London Philological Society, is the oldest learned society in Great Britain dedicated to the study of language. The society was established in 1842 to "investigate and promote the study and knowledge of the structure, the affinities, and the history of languages"...
, On some Deficiencies in our English Dictionaries (1857), which gave the first impulse to the great Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
. His advocacy of a revised translation of the 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....
(1858) helped promote another great national project. In 1856 he published a valuable essay on Calderón
Pedro Calderón de la Barca
Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño usually referred as Pedro Calderón de la Barca , was a dramatist, poet and writer of the Spanish Golden Age. During certain periods of his life he was also a soldier and a Roman Catholic priest...
, with a translation of a portion of Life is a Dream in the original metre. In 1841 he had published his Notes on the Parables of our Lord, and in 1846 his Notes on the Miracles, popular works which are treasuries of erudite and acute illustration.
In 1856 Trench became Dean of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, a position which suited him. Here he introduced evening nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
services. In January 1864 he was advanced to the post of 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...
. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was an English churchman, Dean of Westminster, known as Dean Stanley. His position was that of a Broad Churchman and he was the author of works on Church History.-Life and times:...
had been first choice, but was rejected by the Irish Church
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, and, according to Bishop Wilberforce's correspondence, Trench's appointment was favoured neither by the prime minister nor the lord-lieutenant. It was, moreover, unpopular in Ireland, and a blow to English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
; yet it turned out to be fortunate. Trench could not prevent the disestablishment of the Irish Church, though he resisted with dignity. But, when the disestablished
Disestablishmentarianism
Disestablishmentarianism today relates to the Church of England in the United Kingdom and related views on its establishment as an established church....
communion had to be reconstituted under the greatest difficulties, it was important that the occupant of his position should be a man of a liberal and genial spirit.
This was the work of the remainder of Trench's life; it exposed him at times to considerable abuse, but he came to be appreciated, and, when in November 1884 he resigned his archbishopric because of poor health, clergy and laity unanimously recorded their sense of his "wisdom, learning, diligence, and munificence." He had found time for Lectures on Medieval Church History (1878); his poetical works were rearranged and collected in two volumes (last edition, 1885). He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, after a lingering illness.
From 1872 and during his successor's incumbency the post of Dean of Christ Church, Dublin was held with the archbishopric.
See his Letters and Memorials (2 vols., 1886).
Family
He was the son of Richard Trench (1774–1860) and Melesina Chenevix (1768–1827). He married Hon. Frances Mary Trench, daughter of Francis Trench and Mary Mason, on 1 June 1832. They had 14 children; 8 sons and 6 daughters:- Francis William Trench (1833–1841)
- Melesina Mary Chenevix Trench (1834–1918)
- Richard Trench (1836–1861)
- Frederick Chenevix Trench (1837–1894)
- Charles Chenevix Trench (1839–1933)
- Arthur Julius Trench (1840–1860)
- Emily Elizabeth Trench (1842–1842)
- Philip Chenevix Trench (1843–1848)
- Edith Chenevix Trench (1844–1942)
- Helen Emily Chenevix Trench (1846–1935)
- Frances Harriet Chenevix Trench (1847–1941)
- Rose Julia Chenevix Trench (1848–1902)
- Alfred Chenevix Trench (1849–1938)
- Herbert Francis Chenevix Trench (1850–1900)
Works by
- Christ the desire of all nations. 1846
- Poems from Eastern sources, Genoveva, and other poems. 1851
- Notes on the miracles of Our Lord. 1852
- The fitness of the Holy Scripture. 1854
- English past and present. 1855
- Synonyms of the New Testament. 1855
- Calderon, his life and genius, with specimens of his plays. 1856
- Life’s a dream. The great theatre of the world. 1856
- On some deficiencies in our English dictionaries. 1857
- On the Authorized version of the New Testament. 1858
- A select glossary of English words used formerly in senses different from their present. 1860
- Sermons preached in Westminster Abbey. 1860
- Notes on the parables of Our Lord. 1861
- Proverbs and their lessons. 1861
- A household book of English poetry. 1868
- Plutarch, his life, and his Lives and his Morals. 1873
- Sacred Latin poetry. 1874
- Studies in the Gospels. 1874
- Synonyms of the New Testament. 1880
- Brief thoughts and meditations on some passages in Holy Scripture. 1884
- Lectures on medieval church history. 1886
External links
- On some Deficiencies in our English Dictionaries
- Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Richard Chenevix-Trench in the PeeragePeerageThe Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
- New Testament Synonyms