Dr. Lewis Richard Farnell, FBA

Lewis Farnell was born in Salisbury, southern England, in 1856. He was the eldest son of John Wilson Farnell and Harriet (often referred to in records as Harrietta) Farnell, nee Pritchard the daughter of John and Harriett Pritchard. John Pritchard was a Crown Officer -of Excise -the Revenue Services. Lewis Farnell was educated at the City of London School and Exeter College, Oxford, where he graduated with a first class degree in Literae Humaniores in 1878. He was elected as a Fellow of Exeter College in 1880 and a lecturer in classics in 1883. He was later Rector (head) of the College. Between 1880 and 1893, Farnell made a series of tours of Europe, studying classical archaeology in Berlin and Munich, as well as travelling in Asia Minor and Greece. From 1901 he was a corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute, and in June that year he received the degree of D.Litt. from the University of Oxford.[2] In 1916, Farnell was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. He also received honorary degrees from the universities of Dublin (Ireland), St Andrews (Scotland) and Geneva (Switzerland). Work[edit source | editbeta]

From 1896, Farnell published many books, including: The Cults of the Greek States (5 volumes) Greece and Babylon Outline-History of Greek Religion Greek Hero Cults (from a series of Gifford Lectures delivered at St Andrews University[1]%29 He delivered the following Gifford Lectures:[1] Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality (1919–20) The Attributes of God (1924–25) Family[edit source | editbeta]

In 1893, Farnell married Sylvia (born 1872), youngest daughter of Captain Christopher Baldock Cardew of East Liss, Hampshire, and granddaughter of the Lord Chancellor Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury. They had three sons and one daughter. His great grandson is Timothy Farnell, the Great Britain Triathlete.[citation needed] Farnell commemorated his brother in the inscription of the 1896 edition of the first volume of the first edition of The Cults of the Greek States. The inscription read, "In memoriam fratris dilectissimi et nuper amissi, which means, "In memory of a most beloved and recently lost brother

Lewis Richard Farnell was a Fellow of Exeter College Oxford from 1880-1892

From: 'The Gifford Lectures' & 'Register of Pupils, City of London School' (extracts are sourced):

'Lewis Richard Farnell was born in Salisbury in 1856, educated at the City of London School (entry, Autumn, 1866) -he was Captain of the School, and, thereafter, at Exeter College, Oxford. He graduated from Exeter a classical scholar in 1874 and obtained a first class in literae humaniores in 1878. He was to receive an M.A. and D, Litt. in 1901. Elected a fellow of the College in 1880 and a classical lecturer in 1883, his career as a scholar of ancient cultures was underway. He was made an Hon. Fellow in 1928.
During the years between 1880 and 1893, when he made a series of tours of Europe (studying classical archaeology in Berlin and Munich, as well as travelling through Greece and Asia Minor), it did seem he had found his métier. From 1901 he was a corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute, and in June that year he received the degree of D.Litt. from the University of Oxford.[2] In 1916. Farnell was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. He also received honorary degrees from the universities of Dublin (Ireland), St Andrews (Scotland) and Geneva (Switzerland).
From 1896, Farnell published a veritable torrent of books: The Cults of the Greek States (5 vols.); an anthropological study, Greece and Babylon (‘impossible to speak of it too highly … beyond all praise’); Outline-History of Greek Religion; Greek Hero Cults (the latter from a series of Gifford Lectures given at St Andrews). His work was said to be ‘presented with great thoroughness and clarity’.
Farnell was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 1916 and honorary degrees were conferred upon him by the universities of Dublin, St Andrews and Geneva. His specialisms recognised by the British Academy included Ancient History, Archeoilogy, Classical Literature and Philology [Page 12, British Academy, 1928-9, as a Source]
However, Lewis Farnell was an innovator and a pioneer in three areas. He was later Rector (head) of Exeter College. As an administrator, beginning as a sub-rector at Oxford University in 1883 and later as rector (retiring in 1928), ‘he played a leading part in the politics of his university.’ He led and supported reforms to promote learning within the university. More importantly, he was unafraid to take on the fight against a most hallowed tradition of British tertiary education, the sanctity and independence of the individual colleges. As vice-chancellor, he championed the university against the colleges—so much so that some senior members unsuccessfully petitioned for his posting not to be renewed. Farnell was also ‘an energetic promoter of the degree of D. Litt’ and thus helped to open up new avenues for advanced research.
Religion was where he made a lasting contribution. ‘Only students of this last generation use the term “religious sciences.” Previous to the middle of the nineteenth century any unbiased appreciation of all religions was impossible’ (Eustace Haydon, ‘From Comparative Religion to History of Religions’, The Journal of Religion 2 (1922): 578–79). Farnell became the first Wilde lecturer in comparative religion at Oxford in 1908, a time when, as mentioned in his inaugural address, the subject ‘found encouragement’ at only a few universities around the world. His task was, he noted, an ‘analysis, elucidation and comparison of the higher forms and ideas in the more advanced religions’.
In addition to his interest in ancient religion, Farnell also demonstrated a strong awareness of and concern for current events. A year before his death in 1934, as the Nazis were preparing to take power, Lewis Farnell wrote to a colleague leaving Oxford to take up another position his hope that he ‘will be an effective champion of higher and purer religion against baser tendencies now prevailing’
Books by Lewis Richard Farnell, 1856-1934:

The attributes of God; the Gifford lectures delivered in the University of St. Andrews, in the year 1924-25, (Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1925) (page images at HathiTrust)
The Cults of the Greek States / (Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1896-1909) (at HathiTrust; US access only)
The Evolution of Religion: an Anthropological Study, (London, Williams & Norgate; New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1905) (page images at HathiTrust)
The Evolution of Religion : an Anthropological Study / (New York : Putnam, 1905) (at HathiTrust)
Greece and Babylon : a Comparative Sketch of Mesopotamian, Anatolian and Hellenic religions / (Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark, 1911) (at HathiTrust; US access only)
Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality; The Gifford Lectures delivered in the University of St. Andrews in the year 1920 (Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1921) (page images at HathiTrust)
A Guide to Studying for Honour classical moderations. (Oxford, J. Thornton, 1881) (page images at HathiTrust)
The Higher Aspects of Greek Religion. Lectures delivered at Oxford and in London 1911. (London: Williams & Norgate, 1912) (page images at HathiTrust)
The Higher Aspects of Greek religion. Lectures delivered at Oxford and in London in April and May, 1911, (London, Williams and Norgate, 1912) (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
The Higher Aspects of Greek religion. Lectures delivered at Oxford and in London in April and May, 1911, (New York, C. Scribner's sons, 1912) (at HathiTrust; US access only)
Inaugural Lecture of the Wilde Lecturer in Natural & Comparative religion / (Oxford : B. H. Blackwell, 1909) (page images at HathiTrust)
Outline-History of Greek Religion, (London, Duckworth & co., [1921]) (page images at HathiTrust)

Sources

[1] Record of Baptism : St George's, Salisbury
[2] London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936
London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P84/PET1/005 : Year: 1869-1906 : In 1893 -the Certificate of marriage confirmed that Lewis Richard Farnell's address was 3 Selwood Terrace, Brompton -Kensington
(ii) Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Marriage &c. Notices), 1738-1925
Sylvia Cardew : Record Type Marriage
Marriage Date 29 Jun 1893
Marriage Place Cranley Gardens, London, England
Father Christopher B. Cardew
Mother Cardew
Spouse Lewis Richard Farnell
Publication Date 20 Feb 1891
[3] Register &c. of the City of London School 1861-1979 Vol. 2
https://www.clsarchive.org.uk/MEDIA/Registers/pdf/CLSReg1861_79.pdf
& see too: https://www.clsarchive.org.uk/MEDIA/Registers/pdf/CLSReg1861_79.pdf
for commencement as a Pupil at City of London School
[4] Directories
1895 -Kelly's Directory of Oxfordshire; Publisher: Kelly & Co.
Description -Title: 1895 Kelly´s Directory of Oxfordshire : 1895
1931 -Kelly's Directory : Parkstone
[5] Title: Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892, 2 Vols. to which accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/3446:34829
[6] L. R. Farnell
in UK & Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
Death Age 78
Birth Date abt. 1856
Residence Place Oxford
Death Date & Place Abt 1934, Parkstone, Dorset
Obituary Date 29 Mar 1934 : Obituary Place Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Newspaper Title The Gloucestershire Echo

https://www.giffordlectures.org/lecturers/lewis-richard-farnell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:People_educated_at_the_City_...
Marriage Certificate: June 29th To Sylvia Cardew: St Peter's Church, South Kensington, London

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/72520:8942

Notes:

On Parishes in Oxford: http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/stgiles/history/parishes.html

St Giles’ Street is split between the two parish churches that mark its length (St Giles to the north and St Mary Magdalen to the south). St Mary Magdalen was in the Oxford Union; but St Giles parish was in the Headington Union, and accordingly births, marriages, and accordingly deaths in the street came under the two registration districts of Oxford and Headington.
Parish East side West side
St Mary Magdalen
(Oxford -reg. district)

Nos. 1–8
From Balliol's Warren building and
the Oxford Internet Institute at No. 1
northwards to St John’s College
main quadrangle

Nos. 58–78
From the middle of Pusey Chapel
southwards to the Taylorian Building)

St Giles
(Headington -the reg. district) - in which Harriet Farnell, Lewis Richard Farnell's mother died in 1897
Nos. 9–30
From St John's newer buildings
and No. 9 northwards to
Wenn Townsend Accountants

Nos. 31–57
From the current Taylor’s Delicatessen
southwards to the middle of Pusey Chapel

Note: St Giles’ Road West and St Giles’ Road East are the former names given respectively to the Banbury and Woodstock Road. This site only deals with St Giles’ Street, which ends at the parting of the ways beside St Giles Church.