Edward Chandler (bishop)

The Rt Revd Edward Chandler MA(Oxon); DD
Bishop of Durham
In office	1730–1750
Orders
Ordination	1693
Consecration	17 November 1717
Personal details
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Alma mater	Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Edward Chandler (1668? – 20 July 1750) was an English bishop.

Life

He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and in 1693 became M.A., was ordained priest, and appointed chaplain to Lloyd, bishop of Winchester. In 1697, he became prebendary of Lichfield; became D.D. in 1701, and in 1703 received the stall in Salisbury vacant by the death of Lancelot Addison. In 1706, he became prebendary of Worcester. He was consecrated his house of Lichfield on 17 November 1717. In 1730, he was translated to Bishop of Durham, and confirmed on 21 November. He held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Durham from 11 December 1730 to 20 July 1750. Chandler was a man of more learning than capacity.

He gained some reputation by A Defence of Christianity from the Prophecies, &c. (1725), in answer to Collins’s well-known ‘Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion.’ - Collins having replied in his ‘Scheme of Liberal Prophecy.’ Chandler published in 1728 ‘A Vindication of the “Defence of Christianity.” The main point at issue was the date of the book of Daniel, in regard to which Collins had anticipated the views of some modern critics. He also published eight sermons, a ‘Chronological Dissertation.' prefixed to R. Arnald’s ‘Commentary on Ecclesiasticus ’ (17 48) [see Arnald, Richard], and a short preface to Cudworth’s ‘Treatise on Immutable Morality’ when first published in 1731. He died, after a long illness, in London on 20 July 1750, and was buried at Farnham Royal.

Chandler was accused of having given £9,000 for the see of Durham. King mentions him as one of the prelates who died ‘shamefull rich.’ On the other hand, it is said that he gave £50 to the living of Monkwearmouth, £200 towards a house fiat the minister of Stockton, £2,000 for the benefit of clergymen’s widows in his diocese, and that he never sold any of his patent offices.

Family

He married Barbara, eldest daughter of Sir Humphrey Briggs, and had by her two sons and three daughters. He was the father of Catherine Chandler, the wife of Wadham Wyndham, Esq. of Eversley in Hampshire.

Notes

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

Church of England titles
Preceded by John Hough	Bishop of Lichfield 1717–1730	Succeeded by Richard Smalbroke
Preceded by William Talbot	Bishop of Durham 1730–1750	Succeeded by Joseph Butler
Honorary titles
Preceded by William Talbot	Lord Lieutenant of Durham 1730–1750	Vacant Title next held by Henry Vane