Archibald Boyd

Archibald Boyd (1803 – 11 July 1883) was Dean of Exeter in the Church of England.

Life Born in 1803 in Derry, Ireland, Boyd was the son of Archibald Boyd, treasurer of Derry. After being educated at the diocesan college in that city, proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. 1823, proceeding to Master of Arts M.A. 1834, and B.D. and D.D. long after, in 1868.

He officiated as curate and preacher in the cathedral in Derry from 1827 to 1842, and here he first distinguished himself as an able and powerful preacher, as a controversialist, and as an author. At that time the controversy between the presbyterians and the Church of Ireland in the north of Ireland was at its height. Boyd came to the defence of the church and preached a series of discourses in reply to attacks. These discourses attracted great attention, and were afterwards printed. In 1842, he was appointed perpetual curate of Christ Church Cheltenham. With Francis Close, his fellow-worker here, he joined in a scheme for establishing additional Sunday schools, infant schools, and bible classes. For eight years after 1859, he was entrusted with the care of Paddington.

Death and legacy On the continent during the autumn of 1882, Boyd met with an accident at Vienna, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He died at the deanery, Exeter, on 11 July 1883, bequeathing nearly £40,000 to various societies and institutions in the diocese of Exeter. He left behind his wife, Frances, the daughter of Thomas Waller of Ospringe, and widow of the Rev. Robert Day Denny. She herself died on 6 January 1877.

Works His works include: Sermons on the Church, or the Episcopacy, Liturgy, and Ceremonies of the Church of England 1838 Episcopacy, Ordination, Lay-eldership, and Liturgies 1839 Episcopacy and Presbytery 1841 England, Rome, and Oxford compared as to certain Doctrines 1846 The History of the Book of Common Prayer 1850 Turkey and the Turks 1853 Baptism and Baptismal Regeneration 1865 Confession, Absolution, and the Real Presence 1867 The Book of Common Prayer 1869

He also printed many single sermons and minor publications.