32 Facts About Francis Chavasse

Francis James Chavasse was an Anglican priest and bishop and father of Captain Noel Chavasse.

Francis Chavasse was born at Sutton Coldfield, to a family of Huguenot origin.

Francis Chavasse was the eldest son of the surgeon Thomas Chavasse and his second wife, Miriam Sarah nee Wyld.

Francis Chavasse was left physically stunted, standing at only five foot three inches tall.

In 1865 Francis Chavasse went up to Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

One of the few was the rector of St Aldate's, Canon A M W Christopher, who was a strong influence on Francis Chavasse, encouraging his evangelical views.

Francis Chavasse did not shun the friendships of Anglicans of higher church views than his own, but he drew the line at Roman Catholicism.

Francis Chavasse took a first class degree in the school of Law and Modern History in 1869.

In 1870 Francis Chavasse was ordained priest by James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, and appointed to the curacy of St Paul's, Preston.

Francis Chavasse became known there as "the Ministering Angel", for his constant visiting the sick during an epidemic.

In 1878 Francis Chavasse moved back to Oxford as rector of St Peter-le-Bailey.

In 1881 Francis Chavasse married Edith Maude, younger daughter of Canon Joseph Maude, vicar of Chirk, Denbighshire.

Francis Chavasse was considered a capable but not an outstanding scholar and theologian; he nevertheless achieved considerable success with his Sunday evening Greek Testament classes for undergraduates.

When Francis Chavasse took over from Girdlestone the college was struggling to survive; it was primarily due to Francis Chavasse's personal popularity and pastoral skills that Wycliffe Hall not only survived but flourished.

Francis Chavasse caused some surprise by offering the bishopric of Liverpool to Chavasse; the diocese was predominantly evangelical, but other eminent clerics from that wing of the church, such as Handley Moule, were better known.

Francis Chavasse had gained the trust and affection of all wings of the church while in Oxford, and his appointment at Liverpool was widely welcomed.

Francis Chavasse was enthroned as Bishop of Liverpool on 31 May 1900.

Francis Chavasse did not regard evangelism as incompatible with the building of a great church as "a visible witness to God in the midst of a great city".

Francis Chavasse pressed ahead, and appointed a committee under Sir William Forwood to consider all possible sites.

Francis Chavasse made a powerful and effective speech, encouraging the citizens of Liverpool, "We must build for posterity, we must take a leaf out of the book of our noble forefathers, who have handed down to us those great Cathedrals which are among the greatest heritages of the English nation".

Francis Chavasse had recognised from the outset that the cathedral would take several generations to build.

On his return to Oxford in 1923, Francis Chavasse was elected an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi.

Francis Chavasse's efforts came to fruition after his death: in 1929 the university recognised St Peter's Hall as a permanent private hall within the university.

Francis Chavasse was buried in the precinct of Liverpool Cathedral, and a memorial to him was placed in the south choir aisle, behind the bishop's throne.

The commitment to the Great War of Francis Chavasse's family reflects his own strong support for the War illustrated by his writings in the monthly Diocesan Gazette.

Francis Chavasse was among the most articulate of bishops, and was clear that the War would be 'more terrible in its character, and more far-reaching in its results than any war in modern times.

Francis Chavasse called on his clergy to organise meetings to explain the causes of the War.

Francis Chavasse was proud of the sacrifice made not just by his family but by his clergy who had become chaplains, had joined the Church Army and YMCA and were helping in schools, in agriculture and, in one case, chemical research.

All four of Francis Chavasse's sons served with distinction in the First World War.

The eldest, Christopher Francis Chavasse, won the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre.

Francis Chavasse later became rector of St Aldate's, Oxford and subsequently Bishop of Rochester.

The third son, Francis Chavasse Bernard, won the Military Cross and later became a leading ophthalmic surgeon.