Thomas Wilson (bishop) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas Wilson |
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| Bishop of Sodor and Man | |
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| Church | Church of England |
| See | Sodor and Man |
| In Office | 1697–1755 |
| Predecessor | Baptist Levinz |
| Successor | Mark Hiddesley |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 October 1689 |
| Consecration | 16 January 1698 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 December 1663 Burton, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 7 March 1755 (aged 91) Michael, Isle of Man |
Thomas Wilson (born December 20, 1663 – died March 7, 1755) was a very important leader in the Church of England. He served as the Bishop of Sodor and Man for a long time, from 1697 to 1755. He was known for helping the people of the Isle of Man and improving their lives.
He was born in a place called Burton in Cheshire, England. After studying medicine, he became a priest in 1689. Later, a powerful noble, William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby, asked him to be his personal chaplain. Five years later, Thomas Wilson agreed to become the Bishop of Sodor and Man.
When he arrived on the Isle of Man, many church buildings were in bad shape. He quickly started rebuilding churches and setting up public libraries. He also helped pass an important law, the Act of Settlement 1704. This law gave people on the island more rights over their land. Bishop Wilson worked hard to make sure church rules were followed. He was very kind and often protected people from strict government demands. He was so loved that when he died at 91, almost everyone on the Isle of Man attended his funeral.
Contents
Early Life and Education (1663–1697)
Thomas Wilson was born in Burton, Cheshire, on December 20, 1663. He was one of seven children. Much of his childhood was spent in Winwick, where his uncle, Richard Sherlock, helped guide his education. His uncle had connections to the Isle of Man, which would later become important for Thomas.
Wilson went to The King's School, Chester and then to Trinity College, Dublin. He first thought about studying medicine. However, a church leader named Michael Heweton inspired him to join the church instead. He became a deacon in 1686, even though he was a bit younger than the usual age.
In 1687, he left Ireland to work as a curate for his uncle in Winwick. He became a priest in 1689. He then became a chaplain to William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby. He also managed an almshouse, which was a home for poor people. At this time, he promised to give a fifth of his small income to charity. He focused on teaching the Earl's son for five years.
Becoming Bishop
In 1693, Lord Derby offered him a rich church position in Yorkshire, but Wilson refused it. He believed a priest should live in the place they serve. In 1696, Lord Derby offered him the role of Bishop of Sodor and Man. Wilson had turned it down before, but this time Lord Derby insisted. The King of England, William III, wanted the bishop position filled quickly.
So, on January 16, 1698, Thomas Wilson was made a bishop in London. He was offered the rich church position in Yorkshire again, but he refused it once more. The Bishop of Man's job only paid about £300 a year, which was not much for a bishop. His first task was to get back some money that the church was owed.
Work on the Isle of Man (1697–1749)
Bishop Wilson arrived on the Isle of Man on April 6, 1698. He was officially welcomed at Peel Cathedral, which was in ruins. He moved into Bishopscourt, the bishop's home, which was also falling apart. He spent £1,400 of his own money to rebuild most of it. He also planted many fruit and forest trees, turning the bare land into a beautiful, wooded area.
He was a good farmer and helped develop the island's resources. For a while, he was the only doctor on the island. He even set up a shop to give free advice and medicine to the poor.
One of his first goals was to build new churches, starting with the one in Castletown in 1698. In 1699, he began setting up libraries in parishes, inspired by his friend Thomas Bray. He also made sure that important religious books were translated into the Manx language. The first book published in Manx was his Principles and Duties of Christianity in 1707. This book is often called the Manx Catechism. He also helped translate the Gospels into Manx. He worked to improve the island's schools. In 1724, he even founded a school in his birthplace, Burton.
Land Rights for Islanders
Bishop Wilson also helped with a big problem about land ownership. For a long time, tenants on the island did not have clear rights to their land. This caused a lot of trouble. Wilson worked with the Earl of Derby to find solutions. This led to the passing of the Act of Settlement in 1704 by the Tynwald, the island's parliament. This act was like the island's own Magna Carta. It gave tenants the right to sell and pass on their land, as long as they paid a fixed rent.
Improving Church Rules
A major task for Bishop Wilson was to improve how the church was run on the island. There were often problems, including some involving the behavior of clergy. In 1704, Wilson created a set of ten Ecclesiastical Constitutions (church rules). These rules were agreed upon by the clergy and approved by the island's governor. People said these rules showed how pure the old church discipline could be.
Challenges with Civil Authorities
Things went well until 1718, when Bishop Wilson started having disagreements with the island's government. This was partly because Wilson reduced fines in the church court, which meant less money for the government. The governor, Alexander Horne, became Wilson's strong opponent. They argued about whether church appeals should go to church leaders or to the civil government. They also disagreed on whether soldiers should follow church rules.
In 1721, Governor Horne's wife was told to apologize for spreading rumors. Bishop Wilson suspended the Archdeacon of Man for allowing her to take communion and for teaching wrong ideas. When Wilson refused to change his decision, he was fined £60 and put in Castle Rushen prison. His helpers were also fined and imprisoned. Wilson appealed to the King, and they were released. The King, George I, even promised to pay Wilson's legal costs, but he died before he could. The prison conditions made Wilson's right hand stiff, so he could not write easily afterward.
In 1724, he was offered a much richer bishop position in England, but he refused. He famously said to the Queen, "I will not forsake my wife and children because they are poor." He meant he would not leave his poor diocese for a richer one.
The conflict continued until a new governor was appointed in 1728. Later, in 1736, a new Lord of Man took over. This led to a revision of the island's laws, which greatly reduced disputes between the church and the government.
Wider Interests and Tolerance
Bishop Wilson was a tolerant man. It is said that Cardinal Fleury, a French cardinal, wrote to him. He was so impressed by Wilson that he ordered French ships not to attack the Isle of Man. Wilson allowed people of other faiths, like Roman Catholics and Quakers, to attend his services.
In 1735, he met James Oglethorpe in London. This meeting sparked Wilson's interest in helping people in other countries. He wrote a book called Essay towards an Instruction for the Indians, which was for Native Americans. He also became a member of the Georgia Trustees, a group that helped establish the colony of Georgia in America. He was also interested in the Moravian Church, a Protestant group, and even accepted an honorary role with them in 1749.
Later Years and Death (1749–1755)
As he grew older, Bishop Wilson suffered from gout, a painful joint condition. He died at Bishopscourt on March 7, 1755, which was also the 50th anniversary of his wife's death. His coffin was made from an elm tree he had planted himself years before. He did not want to be buried inside a church. He was buried in the churchyard of Kirk Michael, where a marble monument marks his grave.
Legacy
Bishop Wilson was deeply respected because he truly wanted to improve the lives of the people on the Isle of Man. He lived there for 58 years as a bishop. He cared about the island's language and history. He also helped improve many parts of island life. A century after he died, a famous church leader, John Henry Newman, called him "a burning and shining light." Many of his writings were republished.
Bishop Wilson Theological College was named after him. It was a school for training church leaders, established in 1879.
Works
Bishop Wilson wrote many sermons and devotional pieces. His collected works were published after his death. Some of his important writings include:
- Life, a profile of the Practical Christian (1713) by Richard Sherlock.
- History of the Isle of Man (1722), included in a larger book about Britain.
- Observations (1735), included in a summary of the Old Testament.
- Sacra Privata (1781), a collection of his private prayers and thoughts.
- Maxims of Piety and Christianity (1781), a book of his wise sayings.
- Sharmaneyn Liorsh Thomase Wilson (1783), a book of 22 of his sermons translated into the Manx language.
See also
- List of the Bishops of the Diocese of Sodor and Man
Images for kids
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Thomas Wilson, an engraving by John Simon
