John William Burgon (13 July 1813 – 22 March 1888) was an English Anglican priest, biblical scholar, and literary critic, best known for his vigorous defense of the traditional text of the New Testament and his opposition to the emerging field of textual criticism in the 19th century. He served as Dean of Chichester Cathedral from 1876 until his death.
Early Life and Education
Born in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, Burgon was the son of a merchant. He attended St. Albans School before matriculating at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1835 and a Master of Arts in 1838. He was ordained a deacon in 1837 and a priest in 1838.
Ecclesiastical Career
Burgon held several clerical posts, including curacies at St. Mary’s, Islington and St. John’s, Smithfield. In 1857 he was appointed Vicar of St. John the Evangelist, Chichester, and later became a prebendary of Chichester Cathedral. His appointment as Dean of Chichester in 1876 placed him in charge of the cathedral chapter and its administration.
Scholarly Work and Views
Burgon is most noted for his staunch advocacy of the Textus Receptus and the King James Version of the Bible. He argued that the majority of Greek manuscripts supporting the traditional text were superior to the newer, earlier manuscripts favored by contemporary textual critics. His principal works on the subject include:
- The Revision Revised (1861) – a critique of the Revised Version of the New Testament.
- The Revision Revised, and the Revision of the Revised Version (1875) – further arguments against modern textual revisions.
- The Apology of the Church of England (1857) – a broader defense of Anglican doctrine.
Burgon also contributed to literary criticism, publishing essays on Shakespeare and other authors. His Shakespeare: A Critical Examination of the First Folio (1873) defended traditional attributions of Shakespearean works.
Controversies
Burgon’s confrontational style and uncompromising positions placed him at odds with many scholars of his time. Critics accused him of bias toward the King James Version and of dismissing legitimate findings of textual criticism. Despite this, his work stimulated vigorous debate within biblical scholarship and Anglican circles.
Later Life and Death
John Burgon remained active in ecclesiastical and scholarly affairs until his death. He died on 22 March 1888 in Chichester, Sussex, and was buried in the cathedral precincts.
Legacy
Burgon’s legacy endures primarily in discussions of biblical textual criticism. While modern scholarship largely accepts the principles of the critical text he opposed, his extensive writings provide a detailed account of 19th‑century resistance to textual revisionism and continue to be referenced by scholars examining the history of biblical interpretation.
