Charles Silvester Horne

Charles Silvester Horne was a famous late 19th century and early 20th century Congregationalist who additionally served as Liberal M.P. for Ipswich.^[1]. He was also the father of the humorous broadcaster, Kenneth Horne ^[2]

Childhood

He was born in Cuckfield, Sussex on 15 April 1865, the youngest child of Charles Horne, the minister of Cuckfield Congregational Church, and his wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Silvester.^[3] When he was still an infant, the family moved to Newport, Shropshire. Here Charles Horne gave up the ministry, becoming the editor of the local newspaper, the Newport Advertiser and became a partner of his wife's uncle, Charles Silvester in a printing and bookselling firm. Horne lived the rest of his childhood in the town, and was educated at Adams Grammar School, where his headmaster was a Mr. Tom Collins.^[4] His father's newspaper was very much a family business, and every member of the family helped with it at some point.^[5] The family at this time attended the Newport Congregational Chapel, which is described by Horne's biographer as "The most considerable Nonconformist place of worship in the town."^[6] It was through this church that Horne first began to preach, and his thoughts turned towards the Congregational ministry.^[7]

Early adult years

He graduated MA from Glasgow University in 1886 and subsequently studied Theology at Mansfield College, Oxford, where he was in the first intake of students at the new Congregational college,^[8] before beginning his working life as Minister of Kensington Chapel. During this period he married Katharine, the eldest daughter of Lord Cozens Hardy, Master of the Rolls from 1907 until 1918.

Fame grows

His fame as a preacher and author grew after he took over the Whitefield's Church, Tottenham Court Road, writing hymns which are still sung today ^[9]. From 1910 until his death he had a national platform for his views as an MP. In 1914, returning from New York, he was taken ill suddenly and died. Tributes poured in^[10]. His wife^[11] and children^[12] were to outlive him by over half a century, his youngest daughter living until 1984^[13]. One of his grandchildren, Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon was Bishop of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.

Family

He married Katharine Cozens-Hardy, daughter of Herbert Cozens-Hardy with whom he had seven children:

• Oliver
• Dorothy (1893–1958), married Sir Archibald Gordon. Mother of Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon
• Bridget
• Joan
• Ronald (1902 - ?)
• Ruth (1904 - ?)
• Charles Kenneth (1907–1969)

Bibliography

• Binfield, Clyde, "Horne, (Charles) Silvester", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/37569 
• The life of Charles Silvester Horne, M.A., M.P. ([1920]) Author: Selbie, W. B. University of California Libraries Details of Biography
• The romance of preaching / Author: Horne, Charles Silvester, Publisher: New York : Fleming H. Revell Company, London James Clarke & Co Volumes of Sermons held in Iowa Libraries
• A Modern Heretic, novel- Horne, C.S British Library Cataloguing
• Life of David Livingstone-Horne, C.S List of Livingstone Biographies

References

1. ^ The Times, Monday, May 04, 1914; pg. 8; Issue 40514; col E Obituary
2. ^ Father of Kenneth Horne
3. ^ W.B. Selbie: The Life of Charles Silvester Horne (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1920), P. 3
4. ^ Selbie, P. 3
5. ^ Selbie, P. 4
6. ^ Selbie, P. 5
7. ^ Selbie, P. 6
8. ^ Selbie, P. 30
9. ^ Words of his most famous hymn
10. ^ The Times, Friday, May 15, 1914; pg. 6; Issue 40524; col E Memorial service attended by David Lloyd George
11. ^ The Times, Monday, Jul 07, 1958; pg. 13; Issue 54196; col C Death of Lady Horne
12. ^ The Times, Saturday, Apr 25, 1959; pg. 8; Issue 54444; col D Lady Gordon dies
13. ^ The Times, Thursday, Jun 07, 1984; pg. 30; Issue 61851; col A Last child Joan dies

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Horne

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Felix Thornley Cobbold and Sir Daniel Ford Goddard	Member of Parliament for Ipswich 1910–1914 With: Sir Daniel Ford Goddard	Succeeded by John Ganzoni and Sir Daniel Ford Goddard

Persondata
Name	Horne, Charles Silvester
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1865
Place of birth
Date of death	1914
Place of death