James Welldon

James Edward Cowell Welldon (25 April 1854 – 17 June 1937) was an English clergyman and scholar. He was Bishop of Calcutta from 1898 to 1902, Dean of Manchester from 1906 to 1918, and Dean of Durham from 1918 to 1933.

Early life Welldon was born in 1854 in Tonbridge, Kent, the son of Edward Ind Welldon, the Second Master of Tonbridge School, and nephew of James Ind Welldon, Headmaster of Tonbridge. He was educated at Eton and was named the Newcastle scholar in 1873. He went on to King's College, Cambridge where he was academically prominent, becoming the Bell scholar in 1874 and the Browne's medallist in 1875 and 1876. In 1877, as well as gaining his BA degree, he was the senior classical and senior chancellor's medallist. He became a fellow in 1878 and in 1880 gained his MA degree.

Sporting achievements He had a reputation at Eton in both the college's Wall Game and Field Game and became school captain. After school, he played as full-back in association football with the Old Etonians F.C. and took part in the first match (score 1–1 draw) of the 1876 FA Cup Final at Kennington Oval, which they ultimately lost after a replay to Wanderers when his place in team was taken by Edgar Lubbock. He also played for Upton Park and Hertfordshire Rangers and in representative matches for Essex and London.

Career

In May 1883, Welldon was appointed master of Dulwich College. In the short time he held this position he did much for the college, including the creation and institution of its school song Pueri Alleynienses which is still in use today. He resigned in July 1885 to take up the position of headmaster of Harrow School, which he held from 1885 to 1898. He was the Hulsean Lecturer at Cambridge in 1897. He remained diocesan until early 1902 when he resigned owing to ill health and disagreement with the Viceroy, Lord Curzon. and was installed as such on 8 March 1902. He served in Westminster until 1906. In late 1902 he visited South Africa. From 1906 to 1918 he was Dean of Manchester and from 1918 of Durham. He had a strained relationship with the Bishop of Durham, Hensley Henson, who described him as "a man who could neither speak with effect nor be silent with dignity".

Private life Welldon became an Officer d'académie in 1898. and a keen proponent of British imperialism. Welldon died at Sevenoaks, Kent, on 17 June 1937 aged eighty-three.

Publications Welldon was the author of a number of works including: Translation of Rhetoric (1886). The Consecration of the State (1902). The Revelation of the Holy Spirit (1902). Recollections and Reflections (1915). Religion and Reconstruction (1918). The Greek Orthodox Church. By Rev. Constantine Callinicos, Preface by the Right Rev. J.E.C. Welldon, 1918. The Nature of Immortality in Life After Death According to Christianity and Spiritualism. Sir James Marchant, Ed. (1925). The English Church (1926). The Church and the World (1932). Forty Years On (1935)