Thomas Rennell facts for kids

Thomas Rennell FRS (born February 8, 1754 – died March 31, 1840) was an important English church leader. He served as the Dean of Winchester Cathedral, which is a very old and famous church, and also as the Master of the Temple. He was known for his smart ideas and his strong beliefs.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Rennell was born on February 8, 1754, in a place called Barnack in Northamptonshire, England. His father, also named Thomas Rennell, was a church leader in Winchester.

When Thomas was 12 years old, in 1766, he went to Eton College, a famous school. After Eton, he went to King's College, Cambridge, one of England's top universities. He worked very hard there and became a fellow, which means he was a senior member of the college.

University Achievements

Even though he couldn't compete for math awards, Thomas was a great student. In 1778, he won a special prize for writing the best essay in Latin about 'Government'. He earned his first university degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in 1777. Later, he received his Master of Arts (MA) in 1779 and a Doctor of Divinity (DD) in 1794. A Doctor of Divinity is a very high degree in religious studies.

Career in the Church

After finishing his studies at Cambridge, Thomas Rennell became a priest. He started working as a curate, helping his father in Barnack. He spent a lot of his free time studying theology, which is the study of religious faith and practice.

Moving Up in the Church

Thomas's father later gave up his position at Winchester Cathedral, and Thomas took over. In 1787, he became responsible for a busy church area in Alton, Hampshire.

Later, he became the rector of St Magnus-the-Martyr church near London Bridge. This was a very important church in London.

Impressing Important People

In 1794, when he got his Doctor of Divinity degree, Thomas gave a powerful speech about the French Revolution. This speech really impressed William Pitt the Younger, who was the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time. Pitt called him "the Demosthenes of the pulpit," comparing him to a famous ancient Greek speaker known for his powerful speeches.

In 1797, Pitt asked Thomas to become the Master of the Temple. This was a special role for a church leader connected to the legal community in London. Thomas left his other church duties to focus on this new job. He became friends with many important lawyers of the time. He also enjoyed spending time with younger lawyers and law students.

Dean of Winchester

Thanks to Pitt's influence again, Thomas Rennell was appointed the Dean of Winchester in 1805. As Dean, he was in charge of Winchester Cathedral. Under his leadership, many important repairs were made to the cathedral building, helping to keep it strong and beautiful.

Later Life and Legacy

As Thomas Rennell grew older, his health began to decline. This was made even harder by the sad and early death of his only son. In 1827, he decided to step down from his role as Master of the Temple. He wrote a heartfelt letter saying goodbye to the lawyers he had worked with.

Thomas Rennell passed away at the Deanery in Winchester on March 31, 1840. He was 86 years old. In 1786, he had married Sarah Blackstone, the daughter of a famous judge. They had one son, also named Thomas, who died in 1824.

Thomas Rennell was highly respected as a scholar and a theologian. He was a close friend of Henry Handley Norris and other important church leaders who were part of a group known as the "Hackney phalanx." A famous scholar named Dr. Samuel Parr described him as "most illustrious," meaning very famous and respected.

Works

Thomas Rennell did not publish many books. He printed only one collection of his sermons, called Discourses on various Subjects, in 1801. Most of these sermons had been printed separately before. They were known for being very scholarly and showing his deep knowledge in the notes.

Images for kids

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  William Pitt the Younger was impressed with Thomas Rennell's speeches.