Charles Thorp

Charles Thorp
Archdeacon Charles Thorp

Charles Thorp (13 October 1783 - 10 October 1862) was an English churchman, rector of the parish of Ryton and, later, Archdeacon of Durham and the first warden of the University of Durham.

Life

He was born in Gateshead, Durham, the son of Robert Thorp, Archdeacon of Northumberland and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and Durham School. In 1799 he entered Peterhouse, Cambridge and then University College, Oxford, where he graduated BA (1803) and MA (1806). He became a Fellow and Tutor at University College, Oxford in 1806, Deacon in 1806 and Priest in 1807.

He then became rector of Ryton in 1811, joining a prestigious group with previous rectors including Thomas Secker, later Archbishop of Canterbury. After his time as rector at Ryton, he became Canon (1829) and then Archdeacon of Durham in 1831 and, a year later, became the first warden of the University of Durham. Thorp remained heavily involved with the university, also being the first master, the most senior person in the SCR, of University College. This was a position he held until his death in Durham in 1862. He was buried at Ryton Church.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1839.[1]

His name has been proposed as the identity of a new secondary school in West Gateshead, one which will be created by the merging of Hookergate School and Ryton Comprehensive School.

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Academic offices
Preceded by
New creation
Warden & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Durham
1832–1862
Succeeded by
The Very Revd George Waddington