Raikes, Henry

Raikes, Henry an Anglican divine of considerable note, was born Sept. 24, 1782, and was the second son of Thomas Raikes, a gentleman distinguished in English civic life. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge University, where he graduated at St. John's College, in 1804, with second-class honors. The next three years were spent on the Continent in extensive travels. He enjoyed the society of the most cultured, and returned, in 1808, to enter the service of the Church with more than usual intellectual and social qualifications. He became curate of Betchworth, in Surrey, and later of Burnhanm, in Buckshire, whence he removed to Bognor, in Sussex; and finally enjoyed the distinction of' holding the chancellorship of Chester for eighteen years. He refused, about 1829, the bishopric of Calcutta and a valuable preferment in the North of Ireland and in Lincolnshire. He was attached to his home, and loved the quiet and retirement of his parish. He died in February, 1854. Chancellor Raikes's varied and great learning was scarcely known by his most intimate friends. His was so unpretentious a nature that few were aware of his acquirements in Oriental learning and patristic subjects. His printed productions are his least valued efforts. Yet among these lesser works and contributions to the religious periodicals of the day, he published a volume of Sermons of a very original type, on the "Divine Attributes;" but this volume incurred the fate of most works adopted by a party as its manifesto in great temporary popularity and early oblivion. A far more important work, and one of vast influence on the Church, was his Essay on Clerical Education. It materially influenced the univcrsities to the recognition of a higher truth, of a more precious learning than had, at that time, scarcely found a place in the extensive range of university studies and examinations. It is to be regretted that, besides the repeated publication of series of sermons, the productions of Chancellor Raikes are left in MS. form. He was so well qualified for original work, and did so much of it in certain unexplored fields, that it is to be hoped his writings will, some day, find their way to print in a complete edition. See Gentleman's Mag. (Lond.) 1855, i, 198 sq. (J. H. W.)