VIII. Bishop Hampden—Brands “Innatism” as Remnant of Scholasticism

Brief mention must be made of RENN DICKSON HAMPDEN (1793-1868), bishop of Hereford. After a brilliant university career at Oxford he became successively tutor, public examiner, professor of moral philosophy and divinity, and in 1833 principal of St. Mary Hall, Oxford. He came into sharp conflict with the Tractarians, who sought to prevent his becoming professor of divinity at Oxford. Nevertheless, in 1847 he was consecrated bishop of Hereford—despite heavy High Church opposition, led by Dr. Pusey and John Henry Newman. In 1832 he delivered the famous Bampton Lectures on The Scholastic Philosophy Considered in Its Relation to Christian Theology.CFF2 259.2

In this he said:
“The notion of the separate existence of the soul has so incorporated itself with Christian theology, that we are apt at this day to regard a belief in it as essential to orthodox doctrine. I cannot, however, help viewing this popular belief as a remnant of scholasticism.” ^{2020) Renn Dickson Hampden, Bampton Lectures, p. 310.}CFF2 260.1

From this position he never retreated. Thus again the holding of the Conditionalist view did not prevent the advancement of a man to a bishopric. Times were changing.CFF2 260.2