Alfred Pearson (bishop) explained

Alfred Pearson
Bishop of Burnley
Diocese:Diocese of Manchester
Term:1905–1909
Predecessor:Edwyn Hoskyns
Successor:Henry Henn
Ordination:1874
Consecration:1905
Consecrated By:William Maclagan
Birth Date:30 April 1848
Birth Place:Brixton, Surrey,
Death Place:Burnley, Lancashire, UK
Nationality:British
Religion:Anglican
Parents:Robert Pearson & Hannah
Spouse:Caroline
Alma Mater:Lincoln College, Oxford

Alfred Pearson (30 April 184819 March 1909)[1] was the second Bishop of Burnley (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Manchester) from 1905[2] until his death.

Born at Clifton Lodge, Brixton Hills, Streatham in Brixton, Surrey, second son of Robert (a shipowner and Wharfinger at Stanton's wharf, Tooley Street, Southwark.) and his second wife, Hannah née Brodrick, and educated at Islington Grammar School and Lincoln College, Oxford, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts on 6 July 1872, in 1872 he was appointed Curate of St Andrew's, Leedshe was ordained on Sunday 21 September 1873 by the Bishop of Ripon (Robert Bickersteth D.D. 1857–1884) at Ripon Cathedral. He was then appointed Curate of Knaresborough Parish Church between (1874) and (1877), Whilst he was a curate he continued his studies at Oxford and Graduated Lincoln College with a Master of Arts, Oxford, Thursday 27 June 1875,[3] he was appointed incumbencies as Rector of St Ebbe's, Oxford on 20 October 1877,[4] he was then appointed Vicar of The Living of All Saints' Church, Nottingham (1880–1888),[5] whilst at Nottingham he met and Married Caroline Doncaster Noble, the eldest daughter of John Noble (Estate Manager of Woodhall, Watton, Heartfordshire), on 7 June 1883,[6] on 30 May 1888 he was appointed Perpetual Curate of St Margaret's Church, Brighton (1888–1896),.[7] While living at Brighton, he started to make a name for himself. On 5 March 1890 (3rd week in Lent) he gave the Special Lenten Addresses under the dome of St Paul's Cathedral at 1:15pm.[8] He had a book published, Christus Magister (Some teachings from the Sermon on the Mount by Alfred Pearson MA - price 5 shillings - "Twenty thoughtful, fresh and Vigorous Discourses"),[9] He also wrote a Pamphlet called "The Christian Aims" price 1s. In Dec 1896 he was appointed to the Living of St Mark's, Sheffield (1896–1905,[10] where in 1900 he was made Rural Dean of the area[11] and prebendary of Osbaldwick, a canon of York from 1903) before his appointment to the episcopate. In Sheffield he was a strong Supporter of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, which raised funds to employ extra members of Church Staff,.[12] In 1897, on 21 May, Queen Victoria as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, she opened the new Sheffield Town Hall. On her Arrival at the Town Hall the children sang a short hymn written by Alfred Pearson called "Loyal and Loving Children now Raising" the music was by Mr A Healey-Foster.[13]

A hymn written by Rev Alfred Pearson for Queen Victoria. "Loyal and Loving the Children now Raising"

Loyal and Loving the Children now RaisingWelcoming voices in Joyous refrain,Offer their duteous loyalty, praising God for their gracious Queen's Diamond Reign;

Blessings on Fatherland richly are falling,Crowning the ripening years that remain,Children of Fatherland blessings are calling,Down on their Empress-Queen's Diamond Reign.

In 1904 he was recommended to the vacant post as the Suffragan Bishop of Burnley by the Bishop of Manchester since he valued him as a fellow Evangelical who had worked in several "large Centers of Industrial Population". Pearson was consecrated a bishop by William Maclagan, Archbishop of York, at York Minster, on 2 February 1905, to serve as the 2nd suffragan Bishop of Burnley. He was also appointed to simultaneously serve as Rector of St Peter's, Burnley[14] He died in office of TB in Burnley, Lancashire. He married Caroline Doncaster Noble.Before he died he Published "The Claims of the Faith on the Practice of Today" This was a selection of his Church Sermons.

Notes and References

  1. Obituary- The Bishop Of Burnley The Times Saturday, 20 Mar 1909; pg. 12; Issue 38912; col F
  2. New Bishop Suffragan Of Burnley The Times Tuesday, 3 Jan 1905; pg. 9; Issue 37594; col A
  3. notified in the Manchester Times Saturday 29 June 1875
  4. The Times (London, England), Saturday, 20 Oct 1877; pg. 4; Issue 29078
  5. Lloyd's Weekly" Newspaper London, Sunday, June 27, 1880 Issue 1962 Appointment also in The Times, Thursday, Jul 08, 1880; pg. 8; Issue 29928; col G
  6. Announcement in Nottinghamshire Guardian (London, England), Friday, June 15, 1883; pg. 8; Issue 1986. Married by the Rev Lowther Barrington MA
  7. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, May 30, 1888; pg. 9; Issue 32399.
  8. Times [London, England] 18 Feb. 1890: 5. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 30 Dec. 2017
  9. The Times (London, England), Saturday, Dec 03, 1892; pg. 8; Issue 33812
  10. The Leeds Mercury", Saturday, 26 December 1896 Issue 18323
  11. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mossvalley/mv2/wo/odom04a.html Fifty Years of Sheffield Church Life
  12. A History of St Mark’s: Church Life in Broomhill and Broomhall, Sheffield,’ edited by David Price
  13. Web site: Queen Victoria's Visit to Sheffield 1897.
  14. Web site: Townships: Burnley | British History Online.