Austin Farrer facts for kids

Austin Marsden Farrer (October 1, 1904 – December 29, 1968) was an important English thinker. He was a philosopher, a theologian (someone who studies religion), and a scholar of the Bible. Many people believe he was one of the most significant figures in the Anglican Church during the 20th century. He was also the head of Keble College, Oxford, from 1960 to 1968.

Life Story

Austin Farrer was born on October 1, 1904, in Hampstead, London, England. He was the only son of Augustine and Evangeline Farrer. His father was a Baptist minister, and Austin grew up in that faith.

He went to St Paul's School in London. Later, he earned a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. His father encouraged him to value learning. While at Oxford, he decided to join the Anglican Church because he found the divisions within the Baptist church upsetting.

He found his spiritual home at St Barnabas Church, Oxford. His beliefs became strongly Anglo-Catholic, focusing on the Book of Common Prayer. After finishing his studies, he went to Cuddesdon Theological College. There, he trained to be a priest alongside Michael Ramsey, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

After his training, he worked as a curate (a junior priest) in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. In 1931, he was invited to become a chaplain and tutor at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He held this position until 1935. From 1935 to 1960, Farrer was a Fellow and Chaplain at Trinity College, Oxford.

In 1937, he married Katharine Dorothy Newton. She later became a mystery novelist. They had one daughter, Caroline, in 1939, who became known for church embroidery.

In 1960, Austin Farrer became the Warden of Keble College, Oxford. He stayed in this important role until his death on December 29, 1968, at the age of 64. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford.

His Work and Ideas

According to the Farrer hypothesis, the Gospel of Mark was written first. Then, the Gospel of Matthew used Mark as a source. Finally, the Gospel of Luke used both Mark and Matthew as sources.

Austin Farrer's work was mainly about philosophy and theology. He also studied the Bible deeply. He was known for having his own unique ideas, which sometimes differed from what most scholars believed.

One of his close friends was C. S. Lewis, a famous Christian writer. Lewis even dedicated one of his books, Reflections on the Psalms, to Farrer. Farrer also knew other famous writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and Dorothy L. Sayers.

Double Agency

One of Farrer's important ideas in Christian thought is called "double agency." This idea suggests that when humans act, their actions are fully their own. But at the same time, these actions are also secretly the work of God. He described God as an "intelligent act" in this context.

The Farrer Hypothesis

Farrer also offered his own solution to the synoptic problem. This problem tries to explain how the first three Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are related to each other. Many scholars believed there was a lost source, called "Q," that Matthew and Luke used.

Farrer wrote an essay called "On Dispensing with Q." He argued that we don't need to imagine a lost "Q" source. Instead, he suggested that Mark's Gospel was written first. Then, Matthew used Mark as a source. After that, Luke used both Mark and Matthew as sources. This idea is known as the Farrer hypothesis. His strong arguments against the "Q" theory surprised many scholars.

Preaching and Spirituality

Austin Farrer was also known as a wonderful preacher. Several books of his sermons were published after he passed away. His sermons were known for being kind to those who doubted faith. He would share insights from his own spiritual life to explain his beliefs. People said that attending a weekday church service with him was a very moving experience. He had a special ability to combine deep scholarship with profound spirituality.