Thomas Rundle

Bishop Thomas Rundle monument at St Peter's Church, Dublin taken fromThe Gentleman's Magazinein 1789.

Thomas Rundle(c.1688–1743) was an English cleric suspected of unorthodox views. He became Anglicanbishop of Derrynot long after a high-profile controversy had prevented his becomingbishop of Gloucesterin 1733.

Early life

He was born atMilton Abbot,Devonin 1688, son of Thomas Rundle, anExeterclergyman. AfterExeter grammar schoolunder John Reynolds, he matriculated as a commoner atExeter College, Oxford,on 5 April 1704, at the age of 16. He took the degree of B.C.L. in 1710.

In 1712, Rundle made the acquaintance ofWilliam Whiston,in Oxford forpatristicstudy and to find support for his Society for Promoting Primitive Christianity. Rundle and his tutor Thomas Rennel were sympathetic, but thought Whiston would find no other local recruits. Rundle in the same year became tutor to the only son of John Cater ofKempston,near Bedford. Here Whiston visited him, and suggested a critical examination of theSibylline oracles,which he didn't complete. Going to London, he attended Whiston's society, which held meetings from 3 July 1715 to 28 June 1717; butThomas Emlynfound Rundle worldly. Rundle informed Whiston that he intended to takeholy orders,which Whiston took badly; and became more a follower ofSamuel Clarke.

Priest

Rundle was ordained deacon on 29 July, and priest on 5 August 1716, byWilliam Talbotasbishop of Salisbury;his younger sonEdwardhad been Rundle's close friend since Oxford days. Talbot made Rundle his domestic chaplain, and gave him a prebend ofSalisbury Cathedral.Rundle became vicar ofInglesham,Wiltshire,in 1719, and rector ofPoulshot,Wiltshire, in 1720, both livings being in the bishop's gift. Talbot appointed himarchdeacon of Wilts(1720), and treasurer of Sarum (1721).

At Salisbury, Rundle came to knowThomas Chubbwell; they had perhaps met through Whiston. He praised the common sense of Chubb's publications, to 1730. Edward Talbot had died in December 1720, but his family continued to support Rundle. Talbot becamebishop of Durham,and collated him to a stall in the cathedral (23 January 1722), giving him also the vicarage (1722) and rectory (1724) ofSedgefield,and appointing him (1728) to the mastership ofSherburn Hospital.He lived at the bishop's palace as resident chaplain from September 1722 till Bishop Talbot's death on 10 October 1730,Thomas Seckerbeing his fellow chaplain from 1722 to 1724. On 5 July 1723, he proceeded D.C.L. at Oxford.

Bishopric controversy

In December 1733, the see of Gloucester became vacant after the death ofElias Sydall.Rundle was nominated as his successor byCharles Talbot, 1st Baron TalbotasLord Chancellor(Bishop Talbot's eldest son) who had made him his chaplain. The appointment was announced, butEdmund Gibson,bishop of London,intervened.

Rundle was attacked for his good relations with Chubb, and was called adeist,but less openly the real objection was to Rundle's church politics. Gibson's allyRichard Venn,rector ofSt. Antholin's, London,reported a conversation between Rundle andRobert Cannon,who was noted for light-hearted sceptical remarks. Rundle was defended byArthur Ashley SykesandJohn Conybeare,and was known to have preached against deists, and debated againstMatthew TindalandAnthony Collinsin the Grecian coffee-house.

Bishop of Derry

The issue was eventually compromised: the see of Gloucester went toMartin Benson,a friend of Rundle, while Rundle himself was unpopularly appointed to Derry, more of a rich sinecure. On 3 August 1735 he was consecrated byHugh Boulter,Arthur PriceandJosiah Hort.He lived mainly in Dublin.At the trial ofHenry Barry, 4th Baron Barry of Santry,for themurderof Laughlin Murphy, a tavern barman, in 1739, Rundle as aspiritual peerwas entitled to be an observer the trial, but according to an ancient tradition he was not entitled to participate in the verdict. He took a keen interest in the proceedings, praising the prosecution counsel highly, while deploring the weakness of the defence's legal team.Lord Santry was found guilty and sentenced to death, but KingGeorge II,with evident reluctance, was eventually persuaded topardonhim.

Death

Rundle died unmarried at his house onWilliams Street,Dublin on 14 April 1743, leaving most of his fortune of £20,000 toJohn Talbot.

He was buried inSt. Peter's Church, Aungier Street, Dublinand a monument was constructed to mark the place of his burial.

Works

Rundle published four single sermons (1718–36). HisLetters… with Introductory Memoirs,Gloucester, 1789, 2 vols. (reprinted, Dublin, same year), were edited byJames Dallaway.Most of them are addressed to Barbara (1685–1746), daughter ofSir Richard Kyrle,governor of South Carolina, and widow of William Sandys (1677–1712) of Miserden, Gloucestershire.

Notes

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Lee, Sidney,ed. (1897). "Rundle, Thomas".Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co.