Bloxam, John Rouse

(1807–91)

   Liturgist.

   Bloxam was educated at Oxford University, England. At the age of twenty-six he was ordained to the Anglican ministry and, after a period of teaching at Oxford, he became the vicar of a country parish in 1862. At Oxford he had come under the influence of John Henry newman, under whom he had served acuracy at Littlemore Church. He did not follow Newman into the Roman Church, but he did introduce various traditional ceremonials into the regular services. As a result of his efforts, ornaments such as wooden alms dishes and altar candlesticks became commonplace in English parish churches. Bloxam has been described as the originator of the ceremonial revival within the Church of England. Many of the innovations aroused great hostility when they were first introduced because they were seen to smack of popish practice. None the less today very few Anglican churches lack traditional ornaments.

   R.D. Middleton, Newman and Bloxam: An Oxford Friendship (1947).