- George B. Cronshaw
George B. Cronshaw (1872 – 1928) was a respected Chaplain, Fellow and Bursar of The Queen's College
Oxford University and later Principal ofSt Edmund Hall , Oxford. He was well known for his charitable works outside of university life holding governorships of several schools and his association with British hospitals especially theRadcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.Early life
George was the second son of Rev. Christopher Cronshaw, Canon of
Manchester Cathedral . Raised inLancashire , which now includes parts ofGreater Manchester , he attendedManchester Grammar School and went up to Queen's College, Oxford as a Berryexhibitioner where he graduated with a first class in Chemistry. Leaving Oxford, he attendedLeeds Clergy School and was subsequently ordained into acuracy inHolbeck , Leeds."The Times" (1928a)]Oxford career
Rev. Cronshaw, returned to Oxford in 1898 as
Chaplain at his old college, Queen's whilst holding a curacy at St Cross Church, Holywell. He remained chaplain for thirty years during which time he strongly supported the college music society and choir. In 1900, resigned his curacy and was appointed lecturer in Chemistry, whereupon he organised the college chemistry laboratory inQueen's Lane .In 1902, he was appointed a
Fellow of the college and in 1905 became JuniorBursar rising to Senior Bursar in 1912 at which time he relinquished all teaching responsibilities.Outside of the college he was Junior Proctor for the University from 1909 to 1910 and served as a member of the
Hebdomadal Council from 1911 until 1923. In addition, he acted as Visitor to the Museum, Acting Curator of the Schools and a member of the Boards of Natural History and Medicine. He was also chairman and secretary of the Committee of College Bursars. As treasurer ofSt Hugh's College, Oxford he oversaw their move to the current premises inBanbury Road chools and hospitals
Outside of university he was a member of the governing bodies of
King Edward VI School, Southampton and both Heversham andKeswick School s. He was chairman of governors forSt. Bees School .From 1910 to 1928 he was chairman and treasurer of the committee for the
Radcliffe Infirmary whilst being a member of the committee of the British Hospital Association. At the Radcliffe, he helped to establish the throat and ear, maternity and electrical departments. He helped to obtain for the hospital theHeadington Manor House and Children's Convalescent Home in Cowley and established a countywide contributory scheme that put the hospital on a sound financial footing. It was for such achievements that the Oxford City Council recommended that thefreedom of the City be conferred upon him.Church and freemasonry
In church life, he undertook the duties of examining chaplain to a number of dioceses: to the
Bishop of Chichester from 1919 to 1921 and from 1921 to theBishop of Carlisle ."The Times" (1928b)] It was observed that he would often cycle 10 or 20miles out of Oxford on a Sunday to preach or take service in a county parish. He married late in life (1925) to Dorothy Wardle of Scarthwaite nearLancaster, Lancashire ; they had no children.An active
freemason , Cronshaw was three times Principal of the Apollo University Lodge, Grand Senior Warden of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire and Grand Chaplain in the Grand Lodge of England.t Edmund Hall
George Cronshaw's continuous hard work took its toll on his health and after a bout of
influenza in 1928 he was offered, in May of that year, the position of Principal ofSt Edmund Hall, Oxford which at that time still had close ties to Queen's College. In accepting the position, upon the retirement of G.B. Allan, he agreed to give up all his other duties and appointments. However, it was too late to save his health; he took to his bed ill, weeks after his appointment, and he died in his residence at the Hall on20 December .He was succeeded as Principal by A.B. Emden who had himself only recently been appointed to Vice-Principal. ["The Times" (1929)]
Notes
References
*"
The Times " (1928a) "Rev. G. B. Cronshaw. Principal Of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford", Obituary,21 December (45082), p. 19 (col. 'A')
*"The Times" (1928b) "University News: New Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford",31 May (44907), p. 16 (col. 'D')
*"The Times" (1929) "University News: New Principal of St Edmund Hall",9 January (45096), p. 14 (col. 'C')
** Free access to online copies of "The Times" is often possible in the UK through membership of a county library service
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