Thomas Vowler Short
Encyclopedia
Thomas Vowler Short was an English churchman, successively bishop of Sodor and Man
and bishop of St Asaph
.
, Devon
, where his father was then curate. After spending a year at Exeter grammar scbool Short was sent to Westminster School
in 1803. He went with a studentship to Christ Church, Oxford
, in 1809. He took a first class in classics and in mathematics in 1812, and in the following year was ordained deacon by the bishop of Oxford. He graduated B.A. 1813, M.A. 1815, B.D. 1824, D.D. 1837.
In 1814 Short became perpetual curate
of Drayton, Oxfordshire
, but he resigned this post to concentrate on a college tutorship. Circumstances, however, led him to become in 1816 the incumbent of Cowley
, Oxfordshire; in 1823 of Stockleigh Pomeroy, Devon; and in 1826 of Kingsworthy, Hampshire
. In 1821 he was Whitehall preacher. At Christ Church he became successirely tutor and censor (1816-29), librarian (1823), catechist and Busby lecturer (1825), and in 1823 he served as proctor. He worked to improve the examination system at Oxford, but the changes he sought were not effected until after he had ceased to reside.
Though Short left Christ Church before the Oxford Movement
really began, he was intimate with most of its leaders. Edward Pusey, a favourite pupil, acknowledged his influence, with affection and respect. Short examined John Henry Newman for his degree, and John Keble
was among his close friends.
It was in 1829 that Short went to reside at Kingsworthy, but in 1831 he accepted an offer from Lord-chancellor Brougham
of the rectory of St George's, Bloomsbury. He married, in 1833, Mary (Davies), widow of John Conybeare. In 1837 he was appointed deputy clerk of the closet
to Queen Victoria, and four years later bishop of Sodor and Man. During an episcopate of five years Short mainly resided in the diocese, visiting the parishes and promoting the education of candidates for holy orders. In 1846 he was translated, on Lord John Russell's recommendation, to the see of St. Asaph. Here he for many years gave half of his episcopal income towards the needs of the diocese. Short resigned the see in 1870.
Attribution
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
and bishop of St Asaph
Bishop of St Asaph
The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph.The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St Asaph in the town of...
.
Life
He was the eldest son of William Short, archdeacon of Cornwall, by Elizabeth Hodgkinson, and was born at DawlishDawlish
Dawlish is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England, from the county town of Exeter. It has a population of 12,819...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, where his father was then curate. After spending a year at Exeter grammar scbool Short was sent to Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
in 1803. He went with a studentship to 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...
, in 1809. He took a first class in classics and in mathematics in 1812, and in the following year was ordained deacon by the bishop of Oxford. He graduated B.A. 1813, M.A. 1815, B.D. 1824, D.D. 1837.
In 1814 Short became perpetual curate
Perpetual curate
A Perpetual Curate was a clergyman of the Church of England officiating as parish priest in a small or sparsely peopled parish or districtAs noted below the term perpetual was not to be understood literally but was used to indicate he was not a curate but the parish priest and of higher...
of Drayton, Oxfordshire
Drayton, Oxfordshire
Drayton is a village and civil parish about south of Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred to Oxfordshire.-Parish church:...
, but he resigned this post to concentrate on a college tutorship. Circumstances, however, led him to become in 1816 the incumbent of Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
, Oxfordshire; in 1823 of Stockleigh Pomeroy, Devon; and in 1826 of Kingsworthy, 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...
. In 1821 he was Whitehall preacher. At Christ Church he became successirely tutor and censor (1816-29), librarian (1823), catechist and Busby lecturer (1825), and in 1823 he served as proctor. He worked to improve the examination system at Oxford, but the changes he sought were not effected until after he had ceased to reside.
Though Short left Christ Church before the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
really began, he was intimate with most of its leaders. Edward Pusey, a favourite pupil, acknowledged his influence, with affection and respect. Short examined John Henry Newman for his degree, and 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:...
was among his close friends.
It was in 1829 that Short went to reside at Kingsworthy, but in 1831 he accepted an offer from Lord-chancellor Brougham
Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux
Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux was a British statesman who became Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.As a young lawyer in Scotland Brougham helped to found the Edinburgh Review in 1802 and contributed many articles to it. He went to London, and was called to the English bar in...
of the rectory of St George's, Bloomsbury. He married, in 1833, Mary (Davies), widow of John Conybeare. In 1837 he was appointed deputy clerk of the closet
Clerk of the Closet
The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see...
to Queen Victoria, and four years later bishop of Sodor and Man. During an episcopate of five years Short mainly resided in the diocese, visiting the parishes and promoting the education of candidates for holy orders. In 1846 he was translated, on Lord John Russell's recommendation, to the see of St. Asaph. Here he for many years gave half of his episcopal income towards the needs of the diocese. Short resigned the see in 1870.
Works
In addition to tracts and single sermons, Short published 'Twenty Sermons on the Fundamental Truths of Christianity,' Oxford, 1829; 'Sketch of the History of the Church of England,' Oxford, 1832; 'Sadoc and Miriam' (anon.), London, 1832; and 'Letters to an Aged Mother' (anon.), London, 1811.Attribution