Introduction

IT would not be becoming to write a memoir of Bishop Charles Perry Scott without a brief and respectful reference to the various branches of this Scott family in the past century, though they have deprecated my references to them. Few could shew a steadier and more capable service for the Church.

The first to whom attention must be called is he who is designated by the whole clan as "the Commentator."

The present generation probably knows little of him, but the Rev. Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks, was a great spiritual power in the days of the Evangelical movement.

One quotation alone testifies to his deep influence beyond the borders of his own Church. In his old age, William Carey, the great Baptist Missionary, wrote: "If I know anything of the work of God in my soul, I owe it to the preaching of Mr. Scott."

From the years 1788 to 1792 there appeared Scott's Devotional Commentary of the Bible, in weekly parts. Every earnest Churchman and many beyond our fold fed upon it. In 1800, Mr. Scott became the first Secretary of the Church Missionary Society.

Great as were all these services to the Church, they are equalled by the records of his immediate descendants; for example, the history of two of his sons--John and Thomas.

I. His eldest son, John, was Vicar of St. Mary's, Hull. He had a son, John, who was also Vicar of St. Mary's Hull, and succeeded his father in 1835. This second

Vicar of St. Mary's had a large family. Note their record. There were six sons and three daughters. Four took Holy Orders:--

John, also Vicar of St. Mary's, Hull; St. John's,
Leeds; and of Wanstead, in succession. Cooper, Rector of St. John's, Chester for 40 years. Errington, Vicar of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees. Charles Perry, Bishop in North China.

Two laymen sons became solicitors. One of the daughters married the Rev. Charles E. Cockin.

II. Thomas, the Commentator's second son, became Rector of Gawcott. He had six sons, of whom four took Holy Orders:--

Thomas, Rector of Wappenham.
William, Vicar of Dunmow.
John, Vicar of Wisbech.
Melville, Archdeacon of Stafford.
Samuel, a doctor.

Another son of Thomas, George Gilbert, brought great glory to the family, leaving his mark on the Church by his own talents and those of his descendants. This son became Sir Gilbert Scott, architect; his son Gilbert was also an architect, and the son of this Gilbert is Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, architect of Liverpool Cathedral and the Memorial Chapel at Charterhouse School at Godalming: and now Miss Elisabeth Scott, cousin of Sir Giles, has been chosen to build the Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon.

Sir Gilbert Scott had two other sons, John Oldrid (architect) and Dukinfield, F.R.S.

Thirty-nine direct descendants of the Commentator have taken Holy Orders. Lack of space forbids a further record.

III. I have yet a third group to tell of--the five Scotts who followed Charles to China--of them in due time.

H.H.M.

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