John Thomas Becher | |
|---|---|
 Rev. John Thomas Becher of Southwell | |
| Born | 1770 |
| Died | 1848 |
| Nationality | British |
The Rev. John Thomas Becher (born 1770 died 1848), was an English clergyman, social reformer and Vicar-General of Southwell Minster from 1818 to 1840.
John Thomas Becher was the eldest son of Michael Becher and his wife Catherine(née French) of Cork, Ireland. [1] Branches of the Becher family established themselves at Bristol and at Southwell. The 'Bristol' Bechers were heavily involved in shipping which included slave trading activities. The 'Southwell' Bechers were important as local land agents, squires and parsons for generations. John Thomas Becher was sent to Westminster School at the age of 14 in 1783, becoming a King's Scholar in 1784. [2] In April 1788 was admitted to Lincoln's Inn, but shortly afterwards moved to Christ Church, Oxford where he took his B.A. in 1792 and proceeded to M.A. in 1795. He appears to have moved to Southwell by 1792, and after ordination in the Church of England he became Perpetual curate of Thurgarton and Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire in 1799. In 1801 he became vicar of Rampton, Nottinghamshire and in 1802 of Midsomer Norton in Somerset.
In January 1802 Becher married Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Becher, a relative, who was a Prebendary of Southwell Minster. [3] Becher had Hill House in Easthorpe, Southwell, built for them to live in.
He became a friend of Byron when the poet was staying at Southwell during his Cambridge vacations; and at his advice Byron suppressed his first privately printed volume. Extracts of poems written to Becher by Lord Byron are given below [4]
Poems by Lord Byron to the Rev. J.T. Becher
Dear Becher, you tell me to mix with mankind;
I cannot deny such a precept is wise;
But retirement accords with the tone of my mind:
I will not descend to a world I despise.
But Becher! you're a 'reverend pastor',
Now take it in consideration,
Whether for penance I should fast,or
Pray for my 'sins' in expiation.
Candour compels me, BECHER! to commend
The verse, which blends the censor with the friend;
Your strong yet just reproof extorts applause
From me, the heedless and imprudent cause;
For this wild error, which pervades my strain,
I sue for pardon,–must I sue in vain?
He took a warm interest in everything connected with the social condition of the people, and, whether he was its founder or not, zealously promoted the establishment of a friendly society at Southwell. In 1824 he published The Constitution of Friendly Societies upon Legal and Scientific Principles exemplified by the Rules and Tables of Calculations adopted ... for the Government of the Friendly Institute at Southwell (3rd edition, 1826); followed in 1825 by Tables showing the single and monthly contributions to be paid, the allowances to be granted, and the method of calculating, at every period of life, the value of assurances effected by members of Friendly Societies, together with a system of Bookkeeping recommended for the use of such institutions. In 1826 appeared his Observations upon the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Laws respecting Friendly Societies, exemplifying and vindicating the principles of Life Assurance adopted in calculating the Southwell Tables, together with the heads of a Bill for improving the constitution and management of such institutions. The vindication was of Becher's contention that sick allowances could be calculated on a scientific basis, and that the Northampton tables of mortality afforded the best data for life assurance and cognate calculations, both of which positions had been contested before the committee by Mr. Finlaison, the actuary of the national debt. In 1828 Becher published The Anti-Pauper System, exemplifying the positive and practical good realised by the relievers and the relieved under the frugal, beneficent, and careful administration of the poor laws prevailing at Southwell and in the neighbouring district…. The erection of a workhouse at Southwell, the substitution of indoor for outdoor relief, and the making the former as repulsive as possible to able-bodied paupers, had caused considerable reduction in the rates at Southwell, and the system in operation there had been copied with similar results in various parishes throughout the country. The select committee of the House of Commons on agriculture in its report pointed attention to the value of Becher's system, which was also favourably mentioned by the Quarterly Review . In 1834, during the official investigation which resulted in the new poor law, Becher issued a second edition of this work, with a new introduction. In 1837, he apparently converted, on at least one point, Finlaison, his former antagonist, and there appeared Rules of the Northampton Equitable Friendly Institution, and tables calculated from actual returns of sickness, old age, and death, by the Rev. J. T. Becher, M.A., and J. Finlaison, Esquire, Actuary of the National Debt.
In 1818 he became a prebendary of Southwell, and was vicar-general of the collegiate church, the dean and chapter of which presented him in 1830 to the rectory of Barnborough, Yorkshire. Becher died at Hill House, Southwell, on 3 January 1848, aged 78. [DNB 1] [DNB 2] [DNB 3] [5]
Southwell is a town in the district of Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, England. It includes Southwell Minster, the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. A population of under 7,000 rose to 7,297 at the 2011 Census, and was put at 6,853 in 2019. The origin of the name is unclear. It lies on the River Greet, about 14 miles north-east of Nottingham. Other historic buildings include prebendal houses in Church Street and Westgate and the Methodist church, which has a right of way beneath it, so that the upper floor seats more than the lower. The workhouse (1824) was a prototype for many others. Owned by the National Trust, it shows its appearance in the 19th century. Behind the Minster is a partly ruined palace, once a residence of the Archbishop of York. It includes the recently restored State Chamber, Cardinal Wolsey's former dining room, and gardens among the ruins.
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated six miles from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. It is a grade I listed building.
George Ridding was an English headmaster and bishop.
Thomas of Corbridge was Archbishop of York between 1299 and 1304.
Sir George Nicholls was a British Poor Law Commissioner after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act. He had been an Overseer of the Poor under the old system of poor relief.
Edward Garrard Marsh (1783–1862) was an English poet and Anglican clergyman.
Becher is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Griffith Davies was a noted actuary.
John Finlaison (1783–1860) was a Scottish civil servant, government actuary and the first president of the Institute of Actuaries.
The Minster School is a Church of England secondary school with sixth form in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, for children aged 11 to 18. There are approximately 1600 students on roll. It has a small selective junior section for boy and girl choristers from Southwell Minster and other pupils chosen for their musical ability. It has a smaller than average proportion of pupils on free school meals, or of ethnic minority origin or with Statement of Special Educational Needs.
George Wilkins, D.D. (1785-1865) served as a priest in the Church of England and was Archdeacon of Nottingham.
Robert Nares was an English clergyman, philologist and author.
The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent is a parish church in the Church of England in Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene. There has been a church on this site for nearly 1,000 years. The present church is built in the Gothic style, with parts dating from the 12th century. St Mary Magdalene's is one of the largest parish churches in England and is regarded as one of the finest. It is a Grade I listed building.
Dr. Edmund Ayrton was an English organist who was Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal.
Francis Morse, M.A. was a priest in the Church of England.
William Barrow was an English churchman, archdeacon of Nottingham from 1830 to 1832.
Ralph Heathcote (1721–1795) was an English cleric and writer.
The Venerable Canon Brough Maltby was Archdeacon of Nottingham.
Walter Marshall Browne was Archdeacon of Rochester from 1932 to 1951.
Richard Ingleman (1777-1838) was a surveyor and architect of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, England. Initially his architectural practice was based on the Southwell area, but he won widespread respect for his designs for the Southwell House of Correction (1807-8). This led to his gaining major commissions for prisons and mental hospitals, particularly in Wiltshire and at Oxford.
These references are found in the DNB article referred to above.
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