Richard Durnford

by B. van Cleve

Richard Durnford was born on November 3^rd 1802 in Newbury, Berkshire, as the first of six children to the Rev. Richard Durnford (1766 – 1835) and his wife Louisa Mount (1781 – 1864). He was baptised on 12/08/1803 in Chilbolton, Hampshire.

He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was ordained deacon in 1830 and ordained priest in 1831. In 1840 he married Emma Keate (1812 – 1844), the daughter of his old Eton headmaster. With her he had a daughter, Tammy Lowesa Durnford, and two sons, Richard Durnford Jr. and Sir Walter Durnford.

In 1867 he became Archdeacon of Manchester, and in 1868 ‘canon residuary’ at Manchester Cathedral. Two years later, in 1870, he was elevated to the episcopate of Chichester.

Richard Durnford died on the 14^th of October 1895 in Basel, while he was on the return journey from a holiday spent at Caddenabbia, on Lake Como. His body was brought back to Chichester Cathedral, where a funeral service was held in his honour. In the same cathedral an alabaster recumbent effigy, which was erected to his memory, was unveiled three years later. Durnford House at Brighton College is named after him.

IN PIAM MEMORIAM RICARDI DURNFORD STP EPISCOPI CICESTRENSIS QUI ANNOS AMPLIUS XXV PAVIT SUOS IN INNOCENTIA CORDIS SUI

The English translation would read:

In the respectful memory of Richard Durnford, STP, Bishop of Chichester, who for more than 25 years fed his flock (literal translation: ‘the ones belonging to him’) in the innocence of his heart.

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Floor plan of memorial plaques in St. Peter’s Church Brighton