Charles Corfe
Charles John Corfe (1843 – 20 June 1921)[1] was the inaugural Anglican Bishop in Korea from 1889.[2]
Charles John Corfe | |
|---|---|
| Province | Canterbury |
| See | Seoul |
| Appointed | 1889 |
| Installed | 29 September 1890 |
| Term ended | 1905 |
| Successor | Arthur Turner |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1866 |
| Consecration | 1 November 1889 |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1843 |
| Died | 20 June 1921 |
| Nationality | English |
| Denomination | Anglican |
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| Alma mater | |
Biography
Corfe was one of the four "Bible Clerks" educated as an undergraduate at All Souls College, Oxford.[3] After graduating[4] he had a brief spell teaching at St. Michael's College, Tenbury before being ordained in 1866. For the next 22 years he was a Royal Naval Chaplain.[5]
In 1889 he was consecrated by Archbishop Edward White Benson as missionary bishop of Chosun (Korea) in Westminster Abbey[6] and was awarded an honorary DD on his appointment in Korea.[7] In 1890, he established the Church of St Michael and All the Angels in Seoul and started three hospitals, two in Seoul and one in Jemulpo (Incheon). Until 1891, he was also the bishop of Manchuria before the area was converted to the Chinese diocese of North China. In 1897, he baptized the first Anglicans and performed the ritual in Korean.[6] On his retirement he published an account of his pioneering efforts[8] entitled The Anglican Church in Corea.[9]
References
- Bishop Corfe. (Obituaries) The Times Monday, 4 July 1921; p. 16; Issue 42763; col C
- CONSECRATION OF THREE BISHOPS: Reading, Derby and Corea (sic) The Times Saturday, 2 November 1889; p. 9; Issue 32846; col C to 1904
- History of the college Archived 4 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- The Times, Friday, 16 June 1865; p. 5; Issue 25213; col B University Intelligence
- "Who was Who" 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
- Wickeri, Philip L. (2 February 2017), "Anglicanism in China and East Asia, 1819–1912", The Oxford History of Anglicanism, Volume III, Oxford University Press, pp. 318–337, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199699704.003.0015, ISBN 9780199699704, retrieved 20 July 2018
- University Intelligence. Oxford, 16 Oct.. (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Thursday, 17 October 1889; p. 7; Issue 32832; col E
- Details of book
- Being documents ... issued by authority during the episcopate of the first Bishop of the Church of England in Corea between 1889 and 1905: Seoul, Hodge & Co, 1907
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | Bishop in Korea 1889 – 1904 |
Succeeded by Arthur Turner |