Inglis, Charles

( 1734-1816 )

   first Anglican bishop to serve outside the United Kingdom

   Charles Inglis was born at Glencolumbkille, County Donegal, Ireland, the son of an Anglican minister. At age 20, inglis moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he taught school until 1758, when he returned to England to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England. He was appointed as a "missionary" to Dover, Pennsylvania (now Delaware), and assumed his post in 1759.

   In December 1765, Inglis became assistant rector at Trinity Church in New York City. A loyalist, he wrote a refutation of Thomas Paine's revolutionary pamphlet Common Sense. On the eve of the war, he called colonists to reconcile with England rather than revolt. During the conflict, he remained in New York, which was in British hands, returning to England in 1783 with the departing British troops.

   In 1787, Inglis was consecrated bishop by the archbishop of Canterbury and assigned to Nova Scotia. He settled in Halifax and set about his work with notable enthusiasm. He founded a number of churches and helped create what became King's College, originally intended for training ministers.

   He continued in his duties for more than a quarter of a century and died on February 24, 1816.

   See also Anglicanism; Canada.

   Further reading:

   ■ Brian Cuthbertson, The First Bishop: A Biography of Charles Inglis (Halifax: Waeg-woltic Press, 1987)

   ■ Reginald V. Harris, Charles Inglis: Missionary, Loyalist Bishop (Toronto: General Board of Religious Education, 1937)

   ■ Charles Inglis, "The True Interest of America Impartially Stated" (1776), available online. URL: http://odur.let.rug.nl/ Inglis, Charlesusa/D/1776-1800/libertydebate/inglis.htm.