William Van Mildert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend William Van Mildert |
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| Bishop of Durham | |
Portrait by Thomas Lawrence
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| Diocese | Diocese of Durham |
| In Office | 1826–1836 (death) |
| Predecessor | Shute Barrington |
| Successor | Edward Maltby |
| Other posts | Bishop of Llandaff (1819–1826) Dean of St Paul's (1820–1826) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 November 1765 Blackman Street, London |
| Died | 21 February 1836 (aged 70) Auckland Castle |
| Buried | Durham Cathedral |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Jane Douglas (m.1795) |
| Profession | Church of England |
| Education | Merchant Taylors' School |
| Alma mater | The Queen's College, Oxford |
William Van Mildert was an important church leader in England. He lived from 1765 to 1836. He became the Bishop of Durham, a very powerful position, from 1826 until his death. He was the last bishop to have special ruling powers over the area called the County Palatine of Durham.
William Van Mildert also played a key role in starting the University of Durham. Today, a college at the university, Van Mildert College, is named after him. There is also a special teaching position called the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity.
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Who was William Van Mildert?
William Van Mildert was born on November 6, 1765, in London. His father, Cornelius van Mildert, was a gin distiller. His family had roots in Amsterdam, Netherlands. William went to Merchant Taylors' School and then to The Queen's College, Oxford.
Becoming a Church Leader
In 1790, William Van Mildert worked as a curate in Witham, Essex. A curate is a priest who helps the main priest. There, he met Jane Douglas, and they married in 1795.
He later became the rector of a church in London. He also taught at Oxford University as a professor of divinity. Divinity is the study of religion.
Bishop of Llandaff
From 1819 to 1826, Van Mildert was the Bishop of Llandaff in Wales. Unlike some bishops before him, he actually lived in his diocese. A diocese is the area a bishop is responsible for. He rented a house because the bishop's palace was in ruins. People thought he was a very dedicated bishop.
Founding Durham University
William Van Mildert was the main person behind starting the University of Durham. He wanted to create a new university in the north of England.
Giving Land and Buildings
He gave Durham Castle to the new university. This castle became a home for students at University College. Because of this, Auckland Castle became the only home for the Bishop of Durham.
He also gave many other buildings on Palace Green to the university. These buildings are still used today by different university departments, like law and music.
Helping Stockton-on-Tees
In 1833, Van Mildert gave five acres of land to the town of Stockton-on-Tees. This land included a place used as a burial ground during a cholera outbreak. He used special funds to build a church there called Holy Trinity Church. It was built in the Gothic style. Today, the church is in ruins but is still an important historical building.
The Last Prince-Bishop
William Van Mildert was the last Bishop of Durham to have significant ruling powers. For many centuries, the Bishop of Durham had special authority, almost like a prince. This area was known as the County Palatine of Durham.
After his death in 1836, these special powers were taken away. They were given back to the Crown, meaning the government. Most of the bishop's worldly power had already been reduced by laws passed in 1832 and 1835. However, the Bishop of Durham still has a seat in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.
His Writings
William Van Mildert also wrote books and lectures about religion. Some of his notable works include:
- An Inquiry Into the General Principles of Scripture Interpretation
- One plain Argument to prove that Christianity could not be of human invention. Extracted from the “Boyle's Lectures” of the Bishop of Durham, 1831
