Who’s Who ‘G’

Gladstone William Ewart, Liberal Prime Minister 1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, 1894-1896 1809-1898 Educated Eton College, Christ Church Oxford where he read Classics and Mathematics gaining a double first. He spoke six languages, and read the Bible (NT) every day Greek.  His father was a prosperous merchant and MP from Liverpool. Like his wife Anne (nee Roberston) they were of Scottish Presbyterian background. Gladstone Became an MP in 1833, served in Robert Peel’s government from 1834. Joined the Peelites and then Liberals in 1859.  He was opposed to protectionism in trade and rank imperialism overseas, and supported equal opportunities at home, education and the rights of labour. In 1838 Gladstone wrote the State in its relationship with the Church, supporting the Established Church against RCs and Dissenters. Although his exclusive Anglicanism changed, he opposed the outcome of the Gorham case (ie he defended Baptismal regeneration) and supported the Real Presence in The Eucharist. He reformed the Church of Ireland. He abolished compulsory Church Rate. In 1871 his govt brought in the University Tests Acts- permitting RCs and Non-Conformists to hold university offices. But opposed the Vatican Decrees on Infallibility of 1871. He supported creation of new sees in England and overseas. He supported the appointment of Biblically literate, dependable Bishops. He was especially close to Bishop Samuel Wilberforce of Winchester who died in 1874 and who shared his conservative views on Darwinianism. At the end of his Life Gladstone established the residential library at St Deiniol’s Hawarden. He condemned the  Armenian massacres in 1890s as he had the Bulgarian in 1876.  Gladstone remains the great countervailing influence to Imperial Britain in Victorian England. He sought independence for Ireland but failed to achieve on two occasions. 

Green Michael, Canon: Evangelist, Author, Professor and Trainer 1930-2019 Educated Exeter College Oxford Classics BA’53 MA’56, Queens College Cambridge Divinity BA 57, MA ‘61 Ordained 57 Eastbourne. Tutor London School of Divinity 1960-1969, Principal St John’s College Nottingham 1969-1975, Rector St Aldates Oxford 75- 86, Professor of Evangelism Regents College Vancouver 1986-1993, Archbishops Adviser on Evangelism (Springboard) 92-96. Never happier than explaining the Gospel to the unconverted and taking on the Apologetic questions of the age, he combined intellectual cogency and knowledge, with conviction and determination.  He wrote extensively, and mostly in a popular style, on people’s objections to the Gospel. Also, in a more scholarly way he edited and contributed a response to Don Cupitt’s The Myth of God Incarnate. He edited an important series on Doctrine called the I Believe series published by Hodder and Stoughton.                           

Grosseteste, Robert Bishop of Lincoln 1175-1253. Descendent of a poor family from Stradbroke Suffolk. Educated at Oxford University- newly founded, and Paris. Taught at the Franciscan House n Oxford as a Master 1224-1235.  Taught on the Scriptures optics, light– De Luce, translated Aristotle, St John of Damascus, Pseudo- Dionysius and commentaries on Scripture. In 1235 elected Bishop of Lincoln. He confronted abuses of power: took in hand the Dean and Chapter in Lincoln, opposed the Papacy’s appointment of Italians to the English church. He attended the Council of Lyons.Gumbel, Reverend Nicky 1955, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton and Developer of the Alpha Course. Educated at Eton College and Trinity College Cambridge. After practising Law as barrister, he was ordained in 1986 and has served at Holy Trinity ever since, where he succeeds Sandy Millar as Vicar in 2005. He has made the Alpha course accessible worldwide through video; making it the most used course of introduction to the Christian faith. He has written a number of books including Questions of Life (which has sold over a million copies), supported theological Education, begun an annual Leadership Conference, supported church planting and the founding of resource churches in the Church of England with Archbishop Justin Welby’s support