Albert David

Albert Augustus David (19 May 186724 December 1950) was an Anglican bishop and schoolmaster.

After obtaining a first class degree at Oxford he lectured at his old college, and had spells as a schoolmaster. From 1905 to 1909 he was headmaster of Clifton College, and from 1909 to 1921 he held the same post at Rugby School. In 1921 he was appointed Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, a post he held for only two years, being appointed Bishop of Liverpool in 1923, remaining there until his retirement in 1944.

Life and career

Early years David was born in Exeter, the second of three sons of William David (a priest), and his wife, Antonia, née Altgelt. His father was principal of the Exeter Diocesan Training College, All three of William David's sons became clergymen. David was educated at Exeter School and in 1885 won a classical scholarship to Queen's College, Oxford, He gained a first-class degree in literae humaniores in 1889.

After graduating David remained at Oxford as a lecturer for a year. He then took up a post as a master at Bradfield College and moved in 1892 to a similar position at Rugby School. He was ordained priest in 1895. David's biographer Matthew Grimley writes, "A tall and imposing presence, he was a great success with masters, boys, and the school's trustees. He introduced physical drill into the curriculum, expanded the chapel and grounds, and increased pupil numbers."

In November 1909 David married Eda Mary Miles with whom he had three sons and one daughter. Some of the older members of his staff considered that David's methods would undermine discipline and damage the school's reputation. and was enthroned in St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 29 September the same year. In contrast with his predecessor, the first bishop, Henry Hodgson who was a member of the high church wing of the Church of England, By an error in the drafting of the Act, the cathedral of the diocese was in Bury St Edmunds and the bishop's residence was in Ipswich, and communications within the diocese were not ideal. As the cathedral was unfinished and unconsecrated (except for the Lady Chapel) there was no Dean, nor was there a Chapter. David was responsible for the building and for securing the funds for its completion.

The first section of the main body of the cathedral was complete by 1924. It comprised the chancel, an ambulatory, chapter house and vestries. The section was closed with a temporary wall, and on 19 July 1924, the 20th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone, the cathedral was consecrated in the presence of George V and Queen Mary, and bishops and archbishops from round the globe. The building remained David's responsibility until 1931, when by Order in Council the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral were incorporated. After eight years of responsibility for the building David found it hard to relinquish control to the new Dean and Chapter. Frederick Dillistone, a later Dean, commented, "To put it bluntly the Bishop found it difficult to keep his hands off the Cathedral."

Relations between Frederick Dwelly, Dean of Liverpool, and David were at first harmonious, but soured after Dwelly miscalculated public opinion and permitted a Unitarian to preach at a normal service in the cathedral. David had earlier permitted another Unitarian to preach at a non-liturgical service, but it was regarded by many as intolerable that a non-Anglican should preach in an Anglican service. David publicly supported Dwelly during the ensuing furore, but was obliged to endure the humiliation of being formally reproved by William Temple, Archbishop of York (his former pupil at Rugby), in provincial synod in 1934. David sought to reach out to nonconformists, but found himself embroiled in a controversy with the local Roman Catholic diocese over what he described as the "terrorizing methods" used by its priests to prevent Catholics from marrying Protestants. After he retired there came "a great improvement in the relationship between Cathedral and diocese."

David retired to Trebetherick in Cornwall, where he died at the age of 83.