Arthur Rawson Ashwell

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Arthur Rawson Ashwell (1824–1879) was a canon residentiary of Chichester and principal of the Theological College, Chichester.


Ashwell was born at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. In 1843 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, but migrated to Caius College in 1845, being elected a foundation scholar there the following year.[1] In 1847 he graduated BA as fifteenth wrangler, and in 1848 he received holy orders, and became curate of Speldhurst, Kent. In the following year ( he returned to Cambridge as curate of St. Mary the Less, in order that he might study theology under the direction of Professor Blunt.[2]

In 1851 he was appointed vice-principal of St. Mark's College, Chelsea, and in 1853, partly through the instrumentality of Canon Butler of Wantage, he was appointed by Bishop Wilberforce principal of the newly founded Oxford Diocesan Training College at Culham. Here he remained for several years, and, besides his work in the college, assisted the bishop in organising a system of diocesan inspection.[2]


In 1864 Ashwell became editor of the Literary Churchman, which office he held for twelve years, when he became (1876) editor of the Church Quarterly Review, and a little while before his death he also resumed the editorship of the Literary Churchman. To both these periodicals he was a regular contributor. He was also a contributor to the third series of Tracts for the Christian Seasons; and he wrote occasionally for the Quarterly Review and the Monthly Packet.[4]


Ashwell achieved reputation as a writer, a preacher, and a teacher. Some of his periodical essays excited much attention. His articles upon Dr. Farrar's Life of Christ in the second number of the Church Quarterly Review, and upon the State of the Church in the July number of the Quarterly Review, 1874, excited much interest. His article on Samuel Wilberforce in the April number, 1874, of the same Review was the main cause of his being asked to write the bishop's life; and several of his educational articles attracted unusual attention. His longest consecutive work was the first volume of the Life of Bishop Wilberforce (1880).[4]

As a preacher Ashwell was extremely acceptable, especially among the more thoughtful and educated congregations. His little volume of printed sermons, entitled God in Nature, is full of striking and original ideas, expressed tersely and incisively, and evidently with a view to arrest or even force attention.[4]



In 1854 Ashwell married Elizabeth Fixsen, of Blackheath, who survived him.[2]


  1. ^ "Ashwell, Arthur Rawson (ASWL843AR)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge. 
  2. ^ a b c Overton 1885, p. 183.
  3. ^ Overton 1885, p. 183–184.
  4. ^ a b c d e Overton 1885, p. 184.


 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainOverton, John Henry (1885). "Ashwell, Arthur Rawson". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography 2. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 183–184.