Arthur Macdonald "Donald" Allchin (20 April 1930 – 23 December 2010), published as A. M. Allchin, was a British Anglican priest and theologian. He was librarian of Pusey House, Oxford, from 1960 to 1969, a residentiary canon of Canterbury Cathedral from 1973 to 1987, and programme director of the St Theosevia Centre for Christian Spirituality in Oxford from 1987 to 1996.
Donald Allchin | |
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Born | Arthur Macdonald Allchin 20 April 1930 London, England |
Died | 23 December 2010 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England | (aged 80)
Nationality | British |
Education | Westminster School |
Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford Cuddesdon College |
Occupation(s) | Anglican priest, theologian |
Allchin was born on 20 April 1930 in London, England, the third and youngest son of Frank Macdonald Allchin (1891–1977) and his wife Louise Maude Allchin, née Wright (1889–1978).[1][2] One of his siblings was the archaeologist Raymond Allchin.[2] He was educated at Westminster School, then an all-boys public school in London.[3] He then studied modern history at Christ Church, Oxford,[4] and he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1951:[5] as per tradition, his BA degree was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) in 1955.[3][5] In 1954, he matriculated into Cuddesdon College, an Anglo-Catholic theological college near Oxford, to train for holy orders.[1][5] During this time, he also studied theology at Christ Church, Oxford, completing a Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) degree in 1956.[5]
Due to his reputation as a theologian and for his involvement in Anglican-Orthodox relations, Allchin was awarded a number of honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) degrees; by the Bucharest Theological Institute[which?] in 1977, Nashotah House in 1985, Aarhus University in 1992 and the University of Wales in 1993.[3] He was awarded a Lambeth DD in 2006.[6]
Allchin was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1956 and as a priest in 1957.[5] From 1956 to 1960, he served his curacy at St Mary Abbots, Kensington in the Diocese of London.[6] In 1960, he joined Pusey House, Oxford as librarian;[3] Pusey House is a "centre of Anglo-Catholic worship and spirituality" that is associated with the University of Oxford.[4] In 1967 or 1968, he additionally became Warden of the Community of the Sisters of the Love of God (SLG), an Anglican contemplative community of women based in Oxford;[1][3] he only relinquished his wardenship in 1994.[3] He was a visiting lecturer at the General Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary in New York, in 1967 and in 1968.[1][3]
Allchin left Pusey House in 1969 to become an independent theologian.[6][5] During this time, he also acted as an adviser to Michael Ramsey, the then Archbishop of Canturbury, on Anglican relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church.[4] Then, from 1973 to 1987, he was a residentiary canon of Canterbury Cathedral.[6] From 1973, he took part in the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions, the first of which was held in Oxford.[4][7] He held a number of visiting academic appointments during this time: at Catholic University of Lyon in 1980, at the Trinity Institute of Trinity Church, New York City in 1983, and at Nashotah House, Wisconsin in 1984.[3]
In 1987, Allchin left Canterbury Cathedral to become programme director of the St Theosevia Centre for Christian Spirituality in Oxford.[6] In 1988, he was appointed an "Honorary Provincial Canon" of Canterbury Cathedral.[4][5] From 1992 until his death, he was an honorary professor at the University of Wales, Bangor.[1] He retired from the St Theosevia Centre in 1994.[3]
In retirement, Allchin held a licence to officiate in the Diocese of Canterbury from 1994 to 1997, and permission to officiate in the Diocese of Bangor from 1997 to 2010.
Allchin was a dedicated ecumenist. He had been a member of the Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius since he first attended university; this is a Christian society founded to foster relations between the Anglican and Orthodox traditions.[2] He worked closely with another member of that fellowship, H. A. Hodges, in the study of Welsh literature, in particular the work of Ann Griffiths.[8]
On 23 December 2010, Allchin died in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England; he was aged 80.[6] A Requiem Mass was held for him on 12 January 2011 at St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford.[9] The sermon was given by Rowan Williams, the then Archbishop of Canterbury.[9]
Allchin never married.[4] Allchin would often remark his mentor Michael Ramsey's "genius for friendship." Allchin also made friends easily and all over the world. He was a generous, thoughtful friend to many. His wonderful books made him friends he never met.