Charles Mackarness

Charles Coleridge Mackarness (22 July 1850 – 1 March 1918) His mother was the youngest daughter of John Taylor Coleridge, a judge, who was the nephew of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

His siblings included Frederick (1854–1920), a Liberal politician and Member of Parliament for Newbury and his sister, Eleanor (1855–1936), who married Randal Parsons (1848–1936), the son of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse and his wife Mary, both of whom were prominent astronomers. Another sister, Mary (1851–1940), married Bernard Coleridge, 2nd Baron Coleridge, a judge who became MP for Sheffield Attercliffe.

Education Mackarness was educated at Winchester College, representing the school at cricket in 1868.

He matriculated and went up to Exeter College, Oxford in 1869, graduating with a BA 2nd class (Final Classical School) in 1873, and an MA in 1876.

In 1901, he became a fellow of Denstone College. He obtained his Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and Doctor of Divinity (DD) degrees in 1914. becoming captain of the Exeter College XI in 1873. Oxford University's F.A. Cup winning side of 1874 (Mackarness sitting in back row, third from left). In the final, played at Lillie Bridge on 29 March 1873, the university met the defending champions, Wanderers who, under the original rules of the competition, were exempt from the earlier rounds. Mackarness played as the solitary full-back for the university, who dominated much of the match, but conceded a goal after 27 minutes, when the Wanderers captain Arthur Kinnaird outpaced the university's backs and kicked the ball between the goalposts. In a desperate attempt to secure an equalising goal, Oxford took the unusual step of dispensing with the use of a goalkeeper and moved Andrew Leach upfield to play as a forward. This plan back-fired at around the 80-minute mark, however, when Charles Wollaston broke through and scored a second goal for the Wanderers, who thereby retained the trophy.

In the following year, Oxford University again entered the tournament at the First-Round stage where they defeated Upton Park 4–0, going on to defeat Barnes, Wanderers and Clapham Rovers to reach the final, where they met the Royal Engineers. The final was played at Kennington Oval on 10 March 1874, in front of a crowd of 2,000. Mackarness again played as the university's sole full-back. Ten minutes into the match, Oxford gained a corner; as the corner was taken, a melee developed in front of the Engineers' goal, and the ball fell to Mackarness, who shot it over the crowd of players and past goalkeeper William Merriman. Ten minutes later, the university doubled their lead with a goal from Frederick Patton, after some skilful dribbling by captain Cuthbert Ottaway and Robert Vidal. Despite some late attacks on goal from the Sappers, Oxford hung on to win 2–0 and thus secured the cup for the first and only time.

Clerical career

Mackarness was ordained as a deacon in 1874 and as a priest the following year. He was the Assistant Curate of St Mary's, Reading from 1874 to 1879,

He was the Chaplain, Censor and Theological Lecturer at King's College, London between 1879 and 1882, before becoming vicar at Aylesbury in 1882, where he was responsible for St Mary's and St John's churches. His sister, Julia, had been superintendent of St Martin's Lodge (a home for ladies) in Scarborough since 1882. The raid took place just as the 8.00 a.m. communion service was commencing. Despite the noise and damage, Mackarness continued with the service, before returning to the vicarage, where he found that shrapnel had entered through the window of his study and damaged the bookshelf behind his desk. Later that day, the wedding of Richard Horsley and Winnifred Duphoit continued as planned. Charles Mackarness's "sangfroid" remains a "staple" of tours of St Martin's church in the 21st century. He was also an Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop of York. he married Grace Emily Milford (1856–1944), Her father was Rector of East Knoyle, Wiltshire

The couple had six children: Margaret (Margot) Alethea Sumner Mackarness (1883–1960) Hugh John Coleridge Mackarness (1885–1964) Elfled (Elfie) Mary Buchanan Mackarness (1887–1968) Cuthbert George Milford Mackarness (1890–1962) Guy Charles Neave Mackarness (1893–1958) Roger Seymour Patterson Mackarness (1896–1966)

Grace Mackarness kept a daily diary between 1883 and 1916, many of which are now available to read at the Mackarness family website.

Retirement and death Mackarness retired in September 1916 and he and his wife moved to 1 Polstead Road, Oxford, where he died on 1 March 1918, aged 67. The Poetry of Keble as a Guide to the Clergy, 1891 Memorials of the Episcopate of Bishop Mackarness, 1892 Faith and Duty in Time of War (sermons), 1916