James Hargraves or Hargrave (1690–1741) was an English
Anglican divine
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...
who became the
Dean of Chichester Cathedral
The Dean of Chichester is the dean of Chichester Cathedral in Sussex, England.
Bishop Ralph is credited with the foundation of the current cathedral after the original structure built by Stigand was largely destroyed by fire in 1114.
Ralph di ...
in 1739.
Early life
Hargraves was the son of Nathaniel Hargrave of Wakefield, Yorkshire and went to school in his home town. He
matriculated
Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination.
Australia
In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...
in 1709 and studied at
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...
, where he was awarded his
BA in 1711–1712. He received his
MA 1715 and his
DD (Com. Reg.) in 1728.
Career
James Hargraves was ordained in 1712/13.
He became Rector of the parish of
East Hoathly in 1718 (the location of the
Duke of Newcastle's estate of Halland
[), Prebendary of horney">asthorney, Sussex in 1723. He was appointed Chaplain to the King in 1724 and Prebendary of Westminster in 1725, was Rector of ]St Margaret's, Westminster
The Church of St Margaret, Westminster Abbey, is in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, London, England. It is dedicated to Margaret of Antioch, and forms part of a single World Heritage Site with the Palace of Westminster a ...
1730–1734, and was Dean of Chichester from 1739 until his death.[
He was elected a ]Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
in 1726.
He died on 4 December 1741 and was buried in Chichester Cathedral.[
]
Patronage and the church in Sussex
The Pelham family had been in Sussex since the thirteenth century.[Lower. Worthies of Sussex. p. 40] In 1711 one of the family, Thomas Pelham, inherited the title and vast estate of John Holles, the Duke of Newcastle who had been his mother's brother.[Reed Browning, 'Holles, Thomas Pelham-, duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and first duke of Newcastle under Lyme (1693–1768)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 201]
accessed 8 February 2012
/ref> The heir's only obligation was to append 'Holles' to his name and so he became Thomas Pelham-Holles.[ In 1712 he also inherited the Pelham estates in Sussex, from his father.][ The new Duke of Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles was a very wealthy man with major landholdings throughout England and the power to influence the selection of at least a dozen members of parliament.][ He became a strong supporter of the Whig party.][ The 19th-century historian Mark Anthony Lower said that ''his great wealth and influence secured him the utmost deference amongst his Sussex neighbours''.][Lower. Worthies of Sussex. p. 45] In Sussex the Pelham family had influence and contacts among the clergy.[
Hargraves first met Thomas Pelham-Holles at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was the future duke's tutor.][Chamberlain. Accommodating High Churchmen. pp. 79–82] Hargraves originally came from Wakefield, in Yorkshire, but was brought to Sussex by the duke to be his chaplain.[ Several Sussex clergymen were to receive preferment due to Newcastle's contacts and influence through the Pelham family.][ The duke had hoped that the previous dean of Chichester, Thomas Hayley, could be induced to decline his nomination (as dean), so that James Hargraves could be nominated for the post instead. The king had even ordered a warrant to be ready for the royal signature, as soon as he heard of Hayley's refusal. Hayley, however, decided to accept the deanery.][Horn. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: volume 2. pp. 6–9] Even so, with Newcastles help, Hargraves was able to progress rapidly from his post as chaplain to Dean of Chichester. He became dean of Chichester after Hayley's death in 1739[
Hargraves continued to tutor various Pelhams down the years as well as spending much of his time and effort campaigning for Whig candidates in ]parliamentary elections
A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
.[ This close linking of the political and ecclesiastical life of Sussex continued for most of the middle of the 18th century.][Holtby. The Restoration to 1790 ''in'' Hobbs. Chichester Cathedral: An Historic survey. pp. 110–111]
Both Newcastle and Hargraves seemed to have remained friends until Hargraves death in 1741.[
]
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hargraves, James
1690 births
1741 deaths
People from Wakefield
Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge
Deans of Chichester
Fellows of the Royal Society
Canons of Westminster
People from East Hoathly