Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was a notable Anglican theologian born in 1800 in Pusey, Berkshire, England. He studied at Eton and subsequently at Oxford, where he became associated with influential figures in the Oxford Movement, notably John Keble and John Henry Newman. Pusey's early career included a significant scholarly focus on theology, culminating in his appointment as Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford in 1828, shortly after he was ordained as an Anglican priest. He contributed to the Oxford Movement, which emphasized spirituality and the teachings of early church leaders, and became known for his tracts addressing religious practices such as fasting and baptism.
Pusey's work often sparked controversy, particularly his assertion of the literal presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which led to a two-year suspension from preaching. Despite facing criticism and challenges, he continued to write extensively about theological issues and played a key role in establishing the first Anglican sisterhood. Pusey passed away in 1882, leaving behind a legacy of theological contributions, with his personal library preserved at Pusey House in Oxford. His life and work continue to be a subject of interest for those exploring Anglican theology and the Oxford Movement.
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Edward Bouverie Pusey
- Born: August 22, 1800
- Birthplace: Pusey, Berkshire, England
- Died: September 16, 1882
- Place of death: Ascot Priory, Berkshire, England
Biography
Theologian Edward Bouverie Pusey was born in Pusey, Berkshire, England, in 1800, the son of Philip and Lucy Pusey. After attending preparatory school, he was sent in 1812 to Eton, where he studied under such tutors as Dr. Edward Maltby, the future bishop of Durham. Pusey enrolled at Oxford in 1819 to study at Christ’s Church, where he earned his B.A. in 1822, and his M.A. in 1825. Pusey was granted a fellowship in1823 from Oxford’s Oriel College, and while there he befriended contemporaries John Keble and John Henry Newman, leading figures in the Oxford Movement.
Against his father’s adamant wishes, Pusey pursued and married Maria Barker, and he demanded from both her and their children devout religious practices. Pusey went to Germany for almost two years to study theology, Semitic language, and rationalism, and when he returned to Oxford in 1828, he was named Regius Professor of Hebrew, ordained an Anglican priest, and made canon of Christ Church. In 1828 he published An Historical Enquiry into the Probable Causes of the Rationalist Character Lately Predominant in the Theology of Germany, his analysis of German theological history based upon his studies in Berlin and Göttingen. However, he later distanced himself from the book when others misinterpreted it as a defense of rationalism.
In 1833, Pusey formalized his association with the Oxford Movement, a movement within the Church of England focusing on spirituality and the teachings of early church leaders. Pusey wrote the movement’s tracts on fasting and baptism that appeared in Tracts for the Times, a series of publications written by Oxford Movement members. His fasting tract was the first such publication that was not published anonymously; Pusey’s name therefore became synonymous with the Oxford Movement, often with derogatory connotation. In 1836, Pusey began editing A Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church; five years later, he became the leading figure in the Oxford Movement when his predecessor withdrew. In 1843, Pusey encountered controversy with his sermon The Holy Eucharist: A Comfort to the Penitent, which asserted that the sacraments were literally, and not symbolically, the blood and body of Christ. The controversy resulted in Pusey’s suspension from preaching at Oxford for two years.
After his suspension was lifted, Pusey helped organize the first Anglican sisterhood. In 1846, he instituted the practice of private confession with his sermon Entire Absolution of the Penitent. He continued to preach and write about theological matters, regardless of the often controversial nature of the subjects. Pusey died in 1882. His personal library is preserved at Oxford’s Pusey House.