Modern British Heresy

This is the second of two posts. It is focused on the accusation of heresy against Archdeacon Horrobin. Conflict between the bishop and his archdeacon, Horrobin, was but one element in a longer story of conflict within the governing class of the Isle of Man. I have set out a drop of that story in the previous post . Both posts are drawn from E.B. Pusey, The Works of the Right Reverend father in God, Thomas Wilson D.D. Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man. Volume 2, 1722 here ; Volume 1 is here . (Page numbering for the second volume is continuous with the first and begins at p.491.) =========== Horrobin’s heresy In Whitsun week May, 1722 the annual Convocation of clergy in the Isle of Man took place. The Bishop addressed the assembled clergy and then turned to his Archdeacon. First Horrobin had permitted Madam Horne, the Governor’s wife, to Holy Communion despite being barred from receiving it by the Bishop (p. 503). Horrobin denied knowing she was under censure. A litany of witnesses declar

  This post is taken from E.B. Pusey, The Works of the Right Reverend  father in God, Thomas Wilson D.D. Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man Volume 2, 1722, pp. 499 onwards [ here ]. Volume 1 is here . Page numbering of the second volume is continuous with the first and begins at p493.  This is the first of two posts. It outlines the sustained antipathy between Bishop and Archdeacon in the context of, in effect, a slow palace coup in the government of the Isle of Man.  The accusation of heresy and eventual resolution of conflict are the focus of a second post. This post sets out something of the history. *** Thomas Wilson Bishop Thomas Wilson ( DNB ) had been chaplain to William Stanley, ninth earl of Derby ( wiki ), and tutor to his son. Against Wilson’s reluctance,  the earl insisted that he be made Bishop of Sodor and Man. In the reckoning of dioceses this was a poor appointment: a troublesome and marginal diocese worth no more than £300pa. The post had been vacant since January 1693.  Eve