TEMPLE, William (1881-1944)

Letters of William Temple, later Archbishop of Canterbury, to John Leofric Stocks, [1901-1906], written whilst studying in Europe and considering his future career, discussing the failings of the contemporary church due to a lack of intellectual leadership, his studies, unsure of taking holy orders, doctrine, including the divinity of Christ and questioning of the virgin birth, opinions of artistic works seen in Europe, preference for Botticelli, discussion about honesty, disappointment at being refused as a candidate for ordination by the Bishop of Oxford, [1905-1906]; letters concerning the progress of publication of his Gefford lectures, 1934; comments on an article by Stocks and his opinion on heresy and orthodoxy, 1935; congratulations on Stocks' appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University, 1936.

Born, Exeter, 1881, son of Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury; educated, Rugby, Balliol College, Oxford; fellow and Lecturer in Philosophy, Queen's College Oxford, 1904-1910; President Oxford Union, 1904; travelled in Europe and studied at the Universities of Jena and Berlin, 1905-1906; Deacon, 1908; Priest, 1909; Chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury, 1910-1921; Headmaster, Repton School, 1910-1914; Rector of St James, Piccadilly, 1914-1918; Honorary Chaplain to the King, 1915-1921; Editor of The Challenge , 1915-1918; Chairman of Westfield College, 1916-1921; Canon of Westminster, 1919-1921; Bishop of Manchester, 1921-1929; Archbishop of York, 1929-1942; President of the Workers Educational Association, 1908-1924; editor of The Pilgrim, 1920-1927; Archbishop of Canterbury, 1942-1944; died, 1944.
Publications: include: Thoughts on the Divine Love (Christian Knowledge Society, London, 1910); The Faith and Modern Thought: six lectures (Macmillan & Co, London, 1910); A Challenge to the Church: being an account of the national mission; 1916, and of thoughts suggested by it (SPCK, London, 1917); Issues of Faith: a course of lectures (Macmillan & Co, London, 1917); Christus Veritas. An essay (Macmillan & Co, London, 1924); Christ in his Church. A charge delivered (Macmillan & Co, London, 1925); Christianity and the State (Macmillan & Co, London, 1928); Christian faith and life with Roger L Roberts (Student Christian Movement Press, London, 1931); Christ and the Way to Peace (Student Christian Movement Press, London, 1935); Faith & Freedom (London, 1935); Basic Convictions (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1937); Readings in St. John's Gospel (Macmillan & Co, London, 1939); The Christian Hope of Eternal Life (SPCK, London, [1941]); Christianity and Social Order (Harmondsworth, New York, 1942).

John Leofric Stocks (1882-1937), was a friend of William Temple at Rugby and later while at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Stocks was a fellow and tutor of St John's College from 1906 to 1924. He became Professor of Philosophy at the University of Manchester in 1924, stood as an unsuccessful Labour candidate in 1935, and was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool in 1936.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

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Presented to Westfield College by Mary Danvers Stock, Principal of the College, 1939-1951 and widow of John Leofric Stocks.

Archives catalogue

Sources: Who's Who 1897-1996, CD-ROM (A & C Black); Historical Manuscripts Commission On-line National Register of Archives; British Library Public on-line catalogue. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist.

Correspondence and papers, 1888-1945, (reference: Temple MSS), recollections of Temple by his wife Frances (reference: MS 3209), correspondence with Arthur Headlam, 1934-1944 (reference: MSS 2615-45 passim), correspondence with Edwin Palmer, 1902-1944 (reference: MSS 2980-3010 passim), letters to HRL Sheppard, c1907-1937, letters to Mervyn Stockwood, 1941-1944, held by Lambeth Palace Library; correspondence and papers as Archbishop of York, 1918-1939, held by the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research (reference: Bp.C&P.XIII); notes for addresses, 1942, held by Canterbury Cathedral Archives; notes and lectures on Plato's Republic and psychology, c1906, held by Queens College Oxford Library (reference: Vol V, MS 532-34); correspondence with Lord Cecil, 1921-1943 (reference: Add MS 51154), correspondence with Macmillans, 1905-1942 (reference: Add MSS 55100-01), letters to Albert Mansbridge, 1914-1942, (reference: Add MSS 65254, 65255B) held by British Library, Manuscript Collections; letters to TH Floyd, 1923-1935, held by Lancashire Record Office (reference: DDFl); correspondence with JL Myers, 1906-1907 (reference: MSS Myers), correspondence with Lord and Lady Selborne, 1916-1942 (reference: MSS Selborne add; Eng hist a 23-24, b 231-36, c 975-1031, d 442-80, e 338, f 27-29, g 25-27; lett c), letters to Sir Alfred Zimmern, 1905-1943, (reference: MSS Zimmern) held by Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts.

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury: His Life and Letters F A Iremonger (Oxford University Press, 1948).