Henry Tattam facts for kids

Henry Tattam (born December 28, 1789 – died January 8, 1868) was an important figure in the Church of England. He was also a brilliant scholar who studied the ancient Coptic language. He was born in 1789 and passed away in 1868 in Stanford Rivers, Essex, England.

Henry Tattam's Life and Career

Henry Tattam had a long and active career within the Church of England. He held several important positions during his lifetime.

Early Church Roles

From 1822 to 1849, Tattam served as the Rector of St Cuthbert's church in Bedford. A Rector is like the main priest or minister in charge of a church and its local area. During part of this time, from 1831 to 1849, he was also the Rector of Great Woolstone in Buckinghamshire.

Later Important Positions

As his career progressed, Henry Tattam took on even more significant roles. From 1845 to 1866, he was the Archdeacon of Bedford. An Archdeacon is a senior church official who helps the bishop manage a large area of churches. In 1849, he became the Rector of Stanford Rivers in Essex. Later, in 1853, he was appointed a Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen. This meant he was one of the official chaplains who served the British monarch.

Henry Tattam's Scholarly Work

Beyond his church duties, Henry Tattam was a dedicated scholar. He focused on understanding ancient languages and religious texts.

Studying Ancient Languages

Tattam wrote many books about religion and languages. He was especially known for his work on Coptic texts. Coptic is an ancient language that was spoken in Egypt. He edited and translated several important Coptic writings. His deep knowledge led to him being chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1835. This is a very high honor for scientists and scholars in the United Kingdom.

Travels and Discoveries

In 1838 and 1839, Tattam traveled to Egypt and the Holy Land. During his trip, he met with important religious leaders. He also managed to get many valuable ancient manuscripts for the British Museum. These included texts written in Coptic and Syriac, another ancient language. These manuscripts are now kept safe in the British Library.

Recognized for His Contributions

Henry Tattam's scholarly work was recognized by universities around the world. He received special honorary degrees from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Göttingen in Germany, and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

Key Publications

In 1848, Tattam published an important work called The Apostolical Constitutions, or Canons of the Apostles. This book included a collection of early Christian rules and traditions.

List of Works by Henry Tattam

Here are some of the books and works written by Henry Tattam:

• Helps to Devotion, published in 1825.
• Compendious Grammar of the Egyptian Language, first published in 1830.
• A Defence of the Church of England Against the Attacks of a Roman Catholic Priest, published in 1843.
• A Memoir of Her Grace the late Duchess of Bedford, published in 1858.
• A Compendious Grammar of the Egyptian Language, a revised edition from 1863. This book was later translated into Arabic in 2010.