Claude Hinscliff facts for kids
Claude Hinscliff (1875–1964) was a British priest who strongly supported women's right to vote. People who supported this cause were called suffragists. He played an important role in the movement, especially within the church.
Becoming a Priest
Claude Hinscliff went to Durham University to study theology, which is the study of religious faith. He started his studies in 1893 and earned a scholarship because he did very well on his entrance exam. While at university, he was part of the rowing team, working as a coxswain for the university boat club. He finished his studies and graduated in 1896.
After university, he became a deacon in 1897. A deacon is a type of church minister. He worked in places like Parham and Hacheston in Suffolk. In 1899, he became a priest. By 1905, he was the Vicar of Bobbing in Kent, which means he was the main priest in that area.
Helping Women Get the Vote
Claude Hinscliff is best known for his work in the British movement to get women the right to vote. In 1909, he started a group called the Church League for Women's Suffrage. This group brought together people from the Anglican Church who believed women should have the right to vote. He was the secretary of this league for many years.
He also took part in important events for the suffrage movement. For example, he helped lead the funeral service for Emily Davison. She was a famous suffragette who died while protesting for women's voting rights. The service took place at St. George's, Bloomsbury in London.
Later Life and Changes
By 1913, some suffragettes started using more extreme methods to protest, like setting fire to buildings, including churches. Claude Hinscliff did not agree with these actions. Because of this, the Church League for Women's Suffrage began to distance itself from the WSPU, which was a more militant suffragette group.
In 1914, he had to step down from his role in the Church League because of health reasons. He had been diagnosed with a heart condition called myocarditis in 1911. After this, he worked in Europe. In 1920, he helped with the Serbian Relief Fund, which provided aid to people in Serbia. The next year, he became the British Chaplain in Belgrade, Serbia. He then moved to Romania, serving as the British Chaplain in Bucharest from 1921 to 1924.
His Legacy
Claude Hinscliff's work for women's suffrage is remembered today. His name and picture are on the base of the statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square, London. This statue honors Millicent Fawcett, another important leader in the women's suffrage movement. The statue was unveiled in 2018, and it includes the names of 58 other people who supported women's right to vote, including Claude Hinscliff.
