Gorham

Gorham, GEORGE CORNELIUS (1787-1857), vicar of Brampford Speke, in North Devon, and hero of the 'Gorham case' (1848-50), which arose when Dr Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, refused to institute him on a presentation by the Lord Chancellor. The bishop found him to be of unsound doctrine as to the efficacy of the sacrament of baptism; inasmuch as he held that spiritual regeneration is not given or conferred in that sacrament, and in particular, that infants are not made therein 'members of Christ and the children of God,' as the catechism and formularies of the church declare them to be. The case was brought before the Arches Court of Canterbury, which decided (1849) that baptismal regeneration is the doctrine of the Church of England, and that the appeal must be dismissed with costs. From this decision Gorham appealed to the judicial committee of Privy-council. That court found that differences of opinion on various points left open were always thought consistent with subscription to the articles, and that opinions in no important particular to be distinguished from Gorham's had been maintained without censure by many eminent prelates and divines: the court therefore decided that the judgment of the Arches Court should be reversed, and Gorham was, after some further litigation, instituted to Brampford Speke. During the two years that the suit was pending the theological question was discussed with acrimony in sermons and pamphlets.