The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 203
1857.] Obituary.—Rev. Richard Webster Huntley, M.A. 561
The Rev. Richard Webster
Huntley, M.A.
Huntley, M.A.
May 4. At Leighterton, Gloucestershire, after a short illness, aged G4, the Rev. Richard Webster Huntley, M.A., Rector of Boxwell with Leighterton, late Rural Dean, and Proctor in Convocation for the Archdeaconry of Bristol.
His paternal family can be traced in England from the time of the Conqueror, under whom his ancestors held grants in the parish of Huntley, Gloucestershire, and through his mother he was the direct representative of the celebrated Bishop Warburton. Mr. Huntley was born April 2, 1793; he matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, a Gentleman-Commoner in 1811, and having taken his B.A. degree in 1815, he was elocted a Fellow of All Souls, and proceeding regularly to the degr. eof M.A., he filled the office of Proctor of the University in 1824-5. In 1829 he took tho small college living of Alberbury, in Shropshire, a vicarage which was tenable with his Fellowship. In July, 1830, he married Mary, eldest daughter of the late Richard Lyster, lsq., of Rowton Castle, then M P. for Shrewsbury; and on the death of his father, tho Rev. Richard Huntley, Oct. 16, lb31, he succeeded in the family estates and rectory of Boxwell-cumLoighterton. He resided at Alberbury till 1839, when he came to reside at Boxwellcourt, the residence of his ancestors.
In 1841, Mr. Huntley was unanimously chosen Proctor in Convocation for the Archdeaconry of Bristol, and was present at the next meeting in September. In 1843, a plan was proposed by tho government to suppress one of the Welsh bishoprics, by uniting Bangor and St. Asaph,—in order that a new see might be created for Manchester. The union of tho two sees of Gloucester and Bristol had forsome time been felt to be hurtful to the Church, and a large body of tho clergy, wishing to support Lord Powis in his opposition to the proposed Gent. Mao. Vol. CCIII.
union, requested Mr. Huntley to undertake the management of tho business. In the debate on this bill, the Duke of Wellington and the Bishop of London stated that the union of the sees of Gloucester and Bristol was advantageous to the Church—which statement created such a feeling in the dioceso, that 168 of tho clergy signed a momorial expressly stating that the union was not advantageous, but very hurtful to tho interests of the Church. In consequence of this memorial, Mr. Huntley carried on a lengthened correspondence with the Duke of Wellington, the Bishop of London, and many others: the happy result was, that the Wolsh bishopric was preserved, and Manchester erected to a see, without injury to other dioceses. For his untiring exertions in this cause, the Church will over owe a deep debt of gratitude to him.
At the beginning of this movement he had been appointed by the bishop, with the univei^sal approbation of the clergy, the Rural Dean for the deanery of Hankesbury, an office which he held many years, to the great satisfaction of all with whom he was brought in contact.
It was in the same year—in Nov. 1844— upon the recommendation of Bishop Monk, in his visitation charge, (suggested to his Lordship by a request from some of the clergy of the deanery several years before, that he would sanction their meeting together as a Kuri.decanal Synod,) that Mr. Huntloy presided at the first synodieal meeting.
In October, 1847, another grave question agitated the Church, and he was requested by many Churchmen to object to the confirmation, in Bow Church, of Dr. Hampden, Bishop-elect of Hereford. But Mr. Huntley, ever thinking as humbly of himself as he most highly did of Church ordinances and doctrines, did not consider himself of sufficient weight either for his position or his talents, to appear as an objector, standing by himself alone; it was therefore agreed that he should bo supported in the objection by the Rev. W. F. Powel, vicar of ( irencester, and the Rev. J. Jebb, rector of Pctorstow—the last, as well as hims.lf, holding preferment in the dioceso of Horoford ». On the 24th of March, 1848, Dr. Hampden was consecrated Bishop of Hereford.
The decision given on the Gorham case in 18i0 was a very sore grievance to Mr. Huntloy; and so deeply wore his feelings wounded, that ho tendered to the Bishop his resignation of the office of Rural Dean. He was induced by his Lordship to delay his resignation for six months, in the hope that his opinions might change in the interim; but at the end of that period, against the urgent wishes of the clergy, he adhered to his determination, and the Bishop most reluctantly accepted his resignation ; but he retained" the office of Proctor in Convocation, where he took au active part in the pro
ceedings for the revival of the legislative funct'ons of that assembly of the Church, as tho boat safeguard against encroachment, ore, and attacks upon her; and he was year by year comforted by seeing the opinion gaining ground, that synodical action was necessary for the well-being of the Church. At the last election, in April, 1857, a few weeks only before his daath, he resigned this office, considering that he had done his part in the work of revival.
His knowledge of family history, particularly the families in his own county, and local traditions and antiquities, was very extensive. He was also a good herald, carrying his studies far beyond the ordinary studies of amateur heralds. Few persons were possessed of more varied information on literary subjects: he had the art of imparting knowledge in a very fascinating manner.
For many years Mr. Huntley had lived in comparative retirement, not hiding from duty, but caring for his own and for his neighbours in the spirit of a true Christian, "zealous of good works" to the last; and to the last the delight of all who had the privilege of his society. The brilliant sparks of his conversation, united as it was with most genial kindliness of manner; his wit, ever playful and buoyant, never painfully satirical; his memory exact, and richly stored with anecdote, historical and personal ; his sentiments upon greater subjects always generous and high-toned; these points of character have seldom been seen in more agreeable combination. Seldom has a man left behind him more lively and regretful impressions; such as will not allow us to he satisfied without some attempt to record what we have lost.
"Hie saltern- accumulem donis et fungar inani Munere."
• For a full account of this case, the reader is referred to a report published by Binning, Fleetstreet.
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