Robert Gray (bishop, 1762)

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Robert Gray

Robert Gray (born March 11, 1762 in London , † September 28, 1834 in Rodney House, Clifton, Bristol ) was a British prelate and writer . From 1827 until his death he was Bishop of Bristol .

Life

Robert Gray was the son of a London silversmith of the same name. He received his schooling at Eton College , where he later made lasting friends with the famous philologist Person. He then studied theology at St. Mary Hall at Oxford University . 1784 obtained the title of Bachelor of Arts and 1787 that of a Master of Arts. After completing his studies, he was shortly after 1790 vicar in Faringdon in Berkshire , where he used his free time primarily to expand his knowledge and literary work. During this time he wrote his thorough introduction to the Old Testament ( Key to the Old Testament and Apocrypha; or an account of their several books, their contents and authors, and of the times in which they were respectively written , London 1790). The work was distributed in many editions, of which the tenth obtained from Rivington (London 1841) is considered the best.

After Gray had established his reputation as a writer through this manual, which his compatriots regarded as classic, he undertook a journey through Germany , Switzerland and Italy from 1791-92 to explore the way of life and customs of other peoples , which he described soon after his return home under the Title Letters written during the course of a tour through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy in the years 1791 and 1792 (London 1794). But he showed little skill for this type of presentation, so that his travel letters were not very well received. On the other hand, through his sermons on the history of the English Reformation ( Discourses on various subjects, illustrative of the evidence, influence and doctrines of christianity , London 1793) , he again proved his talent for the intelligent discussion of learned subjects. In 1796 he became a lecturer for the Bampton Lectures , academic lectures that revolve around topics of Christian theology. His lectures came out in the same year under the title Sermons on the principles upon which the reformation of the Church of England was established .

In 1800, Gray was appointed pastor in Crayke , Yorkshire, in favor of Shute Barrington , Bishop of Durham, and in 1804, beneficiary at Durham Cathedral, in which lucrative position he remained for a long time. In the meantime he had attained a doctorate in theology in 1802 . After giving up his pastor's post in Crayke, he was given the post of pastor in Bishopwearmouth in 1805 . Through the charitable use of his ample income, he earned great public respect and he also endeavored to educate the population morally. In schools he tried to introduce Lancester's method of teaching. He also founded several Bible societies , admonished the establishment of savings banks and established hospitals for the growing population. In general, he took care of the promotion of public welfare. In the presence of the famous chemist Humphry Davy in Bishop Wearmouth in 1815 he sought the sympathy for the result of firedamp crashed in the pits miners to attract and prompted by the invention of the safety miner's lamp .

In addition to the activities mentioned, Gray did not neglect his scientific work. During this time he completed his Theory of Dreams ( The Theory of Dreams, in which an inquiry is made into the powers and faculties of the human mind, as they are illustrated in the most remarkable dreams recorded in sacred and profane history , 2 volumes, London 1808). In this anonymously published work he endeavored to show the extraordinary power that the spirit would sometimes gain with the help of dreams using selected examples, and he took his arguments mainly from the Holy Scriptures . He also attempted to reconcile the content of the Holy Scriptures with the works of Jewish and pagan writers ( The connexion between the sacred writings and the literature of the Jewish and heathen authors, particularly that of the classical ages, illustrated principally with a view to evidence, in conformation with the truth and revealed religion , 2 volumes, London 1816). Gray was of the opinion that he had discovered new evidence of Revelation. As an addition to this work, Gray's last work, Josiah and Cyrus the two great objects of divine notice in the scheme of revelation (London 1825) should be considered.

When Gray reached the age of 65, his friend Lord Liverpool procured him the Episcopal See of Bristol in 1827 and with this act concluded the activities of his ministry. Due to his advanced age, Gray was not receptive to the aspirations of the younger generation. Although he advocated religion and the support of the poor, he also advocated the preservation and expansion of the privileges of the clergy. In Parliament in particular, he defended strictly outdated opinions and the privileges granted to the English Church by the constitution. An uprising in Bristol on October 30, 1831 was not without danger for him. The people forced entry to his palace and some angry people threatened to murder him. On the advice of his friends, he fled to the cathedral, but refused to flee further, remarking that there was nowhere more glorious for him to die than in his cathedral. He calmly awaited the raging crowd that demanded his death and burned down his palace. As a result, the situation soon calmed down. The clergy now voted for the bishop, who had risked his life for the preservation of their privileges, solemn addresses of thanks and a precious silver tableware.

Two years later, Gray was attacked by influenza, which was then rampant in London . Although he sometimes felt better, he did not fully regain his health because he did not allow himself the necessary rest, but continued to carry out his spiritual duties diligently and, as usual, spoke from the pulpit to the believers in his diocese. He died on September 28, 1834 at the age of 72 at Rodney House, Clifton, Bristol. Shortly before his death, the Duke of Wellington offered him the bishopric of Bangor , which he refused. His ashes were buried in the cemetery of Bristol Cathedral, not far from the ruins of his palace, which the people had destroyed. A half-length portrait of Gray painted by Wright and engraved by Jenkins, showing him in his bishop's robe, was published in 1833. A marble monument created by Edward H. Bayly has been placed in Bristol Cathedral.

Gray had been married to Elizabeth, sister of Councilor Camplin of Bristol, and had many children with her. One of his sons was Robert Gray , who later became the bishop of Cape Town .

Publications (selection)

  • Sermons on the principles upon which the reformation of the Church of England was established . London 1796 ( digitized )

literature

personal data
SURNAME Gray, Robert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British prelate and writer
DATE OF BIRTH March 11, 1762
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH September 28, 1834
Place of death Rodney House, Clifton, Bristol