William Telfer

Rev. Canon William Telfer MC (16 January 1886 - 13 January 1968)^[1] was an English clergyman and academic, who specialised in early Christian studies.^[2] Telfer served as Dean of Clare College, Cambridge (1921),^[3] Ely Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University (1944–1947) and Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge (1947–1956).^[4]

Telfer was born in Rochester, Kent, the son of a schoolmaster.^[2] Having graduated from Clare College in 1908, he was ordained and became Vicar of All Saints Church, Rotherhithe, which would be destroyed by a bomb in 1944. Telfer returned to his old Cambridge college as a Fellow 1921. Following his career at Cambridge, he continued to write on theological subjects in his retirement.

Telfer worked as a chaplain during the First World War, earning the Military Cross in the 1916 Birthday Honours.^[5]

Publications

• The treasure of São Roque: A sidelight on the counter-reformation, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (1932)
• Cyril of Jerusalem and Nemesius of Emesa, 1955, ISBN 978-0-664-23082-1
• The Forgiveness of Sins: An Essay in the History of Christian Doctrine and Practice, 1959
• Office of a Bishop, Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd (Dec 1962), ISBN 978-0-232-48211-9
• Faversham Abbey and Its Last Abbot, John Caslock: a Paper Read Before the Faversham Society on Thursday 19 March 1964, Faversham Society (1965)

References

1. New General Catalog of Old Books and Authors
2. University of Cambridge - Faculty of Divinity. Ely professors
3. Clare News No 12, 2003 p.14/15
4. History of Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1973
5. "Rev Canon William Telfer". The Times (The Times Digital Archive). 15 January 1968. p. 8.