Robert James M'Ghee facts for kids
Robert James M'Ghee (born 1789, died 1872) was an important clergyman in the Church of Ireland. He was known for speaking out against certain ideas within the Catholic Church. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university in Ireland.
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Who Was Robert M'Ghee?
Robert M'Ghee was a clergyman, which means he was a leader in the Church of Ireland. This church is part of the worldwide Anglican community. He lived during the 1800s, a time of many changes in Ireland. He was known for his strong opinions and for speaking his mind.
Speaking Out: M'Ghee's Campaigns
In the 1830s, Robert M'Ghee started a big public campaign. He gave many speeches where he criticized the Catholic Church in Ireland. He was worried about a Belgian theologian named Pierre Dens. M'Ghee believed some of Dens's ideas were harmful or disrespectful.
He also disagreed with some ideas within his own church, the Church of Ireland. He felt that some members, known as "High Church" followers, were too similar to the Catholic Church. He called these similarities "popish leanings." Other important figures, like Archbishop Magee of Dublin, also shared some of his concerns.
M'Ghee's Special Collection of Books
In 1840, Robert M'Ghee made a special donation. He gave the first part of a large collection of books to several important libraries. This collection had 32 volumes, including Catholic bibles, catechisms (books of religious instruction), and other writings.
He believed these books showed what he called the "crimes of the papal apostasy." This meant he thought they proved his points about what he saw as problems with the Catholic Church. These valuable books were given to the Cambridge University Library, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, and the library at Trinity College, Dublin.
Sources
- The M'Ghee Collection at Cambridge University
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry
- Church or Protestant Sect? The Church of Ireland, High Churchmanship, and the Oxford Movement
