Charles Alford

Charles Richard Alford (13 August 1816 – 13 June 1898) was an Anglican bishop and author in the last third of the 19th century.^[1]

Alford was born into an ecclesiastical family in Somerset, England^[2] on 13 August 1816. His father was the rector of West Quantoxhead.^[3] He was educated at St Paul’s School, London and Trinity College, Cambridge.^[4] He was ordained in 1839 and served curacies at Holy Trinity, Finningley and St Matthew's Rugby.^[5] In 1846 he became Vicar of Christ Church, Doncaster,^[6] a post he held for eight years. He was then principal of Highbury Training College for a decade then vicar of Holy Trinity, Islington. In 1867 he was ordained to the episcopate as the second Bishop of Victoria, Hong Kong, resigning in 1874. On returning to England he held further incumbencies at Christ Church, Claughton, Merseyside^[7] and St Mary's Kippington.^[8] From 1880 until his retirement in 1881 he was a commissary to the Diocese of Huron.^[9] He died on 13 June 1898.^[10]

Works

• First Principles of the Oracles of God, 1856
• Charge to Diocese of Victoria, with Review of Missions to China and Japan, 1871
• Standfast, 1895
• Collected Sermons, 1899 (posthumous publication)

References

1. National Archives
2. Alford Association
3. “Who was Who” 1897–1990 London, A & C Black 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
4. "Alford, Charles Richard (ALFT835CR)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
5. "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, Hamilton & Co 1889
6. Church website
7. The Times, Monday, Aug 27, 1877; pg. 9; Issue 29031; col F Ecclesiastical News
8. Photo of church
9. Diocesan web-site
10. Obituary. Bishop Alford The Times 16 June 1898; pg. 10; Issue 35544; col A

External links

• Portraits of Charles Richard Alford at the National Portrait Gallery, London