William Ince (theologian)
Encyclopedia
William Ince was a British
theologian.
Ince was educated at King's College School
and Lincoln College, Oxford
, where he took first-class honours in Literae Humaniores
(BA
1846, MA 1849, DD
1878).
He was a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
from 1847 to 1878 (Sub Rector 1857-78) and Regius Professor of Divinity
in the University of Oxford
and Canon Residentiary
of Christ Church, Oxford
from 1878 until his death (Sub Dean 1901 to death). He was also Junior Proctor 1856/7, Preacher at the Chapel Royal
1860-62 and Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford
1871-89.
The Chapel of Exeter College, Oxford
, designed by George Gilbert Scott
, was consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford
on St Luke's Day 1859. A few weeks later Ince, preaching in the chapel, warned the congregation, 'Better to worship in the plainest barn with the full outpouring of the heart to God, than in the most gorgeous cathedral ever raised…, if only the sense of beauty finds its satisfaction there, and the heart and the life are estranged from God in Christ'.
In 1892 he spoke at the funeral of Noel Freeling, Vicar of Holywell Church
, remarking, 'By the strange and wholly unexpected change of circumstance which has befallen collegiate life in this University, he was at his college at the moment of his death the only clerical Fellow of the whole body.'
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
theologian.
Ince was educated at King's College School
King's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
and Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, where he took first-class honours in Literae Humaniores
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",...
(BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1846, MA 1849, DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
1878).
He was a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
from 1847 to 1878 (Sub Rector 1857-78) and Regius Professor of Divinity
Regius Professor of Divinity
The Regius Professorship of Divinity is one of the oldest and most prestigious of the professorships at the University of Oxford and at the University of Cambridge.Both chairs were founded by Henry VIII...
in the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Canon Residentiary
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 ....
of 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...
from 1878 until his death (Sub Dean 1901 to death). He was also Junior Proctor 1856/7, Preacher at the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
1860-62 and Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
1871-89.
The Chapel of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, designed by George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
, was consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
on St Luke's Day 1859. A few weeks later Ince, preaching in the chapel, warned the congregation, 'Better to worship in the plainest barn with the full outpouring of the heart to God, than in the most gorgeous cathedral ever raised…, if only the sense of beauty finds its satisfaction there, and the heart and the life are estranged from God in Christ'.
In 1892 he spoke at the funeral of Noel Freeling, Vicar of Holywell Church
Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery is next to St Cross Church in Oxford, England. The cemetery is behind the church in St Cross Road, north of Longwall Street.-History:...
, remarking, 'By the strange and wholly unexpected change of circumstance which has befallen collegiate life in this University, he was at his college at the moment of his death the only clerical Fellow of the whole body.'
Publications
- The three creeds, specially the so-called Athanasian creed, a sermon (Oxford, 1904)
- Sunday observance, a sermon (Oxford, 1901)
- The doctrine of the real presence, a letter about the recent declaration of the English Church union (London, 1900)
- A retrospect of progress in the Church of England during the nineteenth century, a sermon (Oxford, 1900)
- The Church of England Catholic and Protestant, a sermon (London, 1899)
- The future life — the intermediate state — Heaven, 2 sermons (Oxford, 1895)
- The scriptural and Anglican view of the functions of the Christian ministry, a sermon (Oxford, 1895)
- The permanent educational value of the Old Testament in the Christian Church, a paper (Derby, 1892)
- The remembrance of a faithful pastor, a sermon preached on the Sunday after the funeral of G.N. Freeling (Oxford, 1892)
- The real presence and adoration in the eucharist as taught by the Church of England, a sermon (Oxford, 1891)
- A memory of bishop Mackarness: a sermon (Oxford, 1889)
- A sermon preached in commemoration of founder's day at the grammar school at Berkhamsted (London, 1886)
- Disestablishment of the Church injurious to unity and true freedom of teaching, a sermon (Oxford, 1885)
- Strengthen thy brethren, a sermon (Oxford, 1885)
- The Luther commemoration and the Church of England, a sermon (London, 1883)
- The education of the clergy at the universities, a sermon (Oxford, 1882)
- The patristic and liturgical interpretation of τούτο ποιείτε, a second letter to H.R. Bramley (Oxford, 1879)
- The primitive interpretation of τούτο ποιείτε, a letter in reply to H.R. Bramley (Oxford, 1879)
- The religious aspects of nature, a sermon (London, 1879)
- The internal duties of the university, in prospect of external changes: a sermon (Oxford, 1878)
- Parting counsels, a sermon (Oxford, 1878)
- The past history and present duties of the faculty of theology in Oxford, two inaugural lectures (Oxford, 1878)
- Religion in the University of Oxford: a paper (Oxford, 1875)
- A plea for definite Christian doctrine, a sermon (Oxford, 1865)
- Aspects of Christian truth suited to the religious thought of the age, 3 Advent sermons (Oxford, 1862)
- Faithful stewardship, a sermon on occasion of the death of T. Hewlett (Oxford, 1862)
- Palm Sunday thoughts, a sermon on occasion of the death of J. Nutt (2nd edn. Oxford, 1859)
Further reading
- Obituary, The Times (14 November 1910).
- Obituary, Oxford Times (19 November 1910).
- A.G.L. Haig, 'The Church, the Universities and Learning in Later Victorian England', The Historical Journal 29.1 (1986), 187–201.
- Dale A. Johnson, 'Popular Apologetics in Late Victorian England: The Work of the Christian Evidence Society', Journal of Religious History 11.4 (1981), 558–577.