William Telfer (academic)

The Revd Canon William Telfer MC (16 January 1886 – 13 January 1968)[1] was an English clergyman and academic, who specialised in early Christian studies.[2] Telfer held various prestigious positions throughout his career, including Dean of Clare College, Cambridge (1921),[3] Ely Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University (1944–1947) and Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge (1947–1956).[4]

Telfer was born in Rochester, Kent, the son of a schoolmaster.[2] After graduating from Clare College in 1908, he was ordained and became the Vicar of All Saints Church in Rotherhithe, which was later destroyed by a bomb in 1944. In 1921, Telfer returned to his alma mater as a Fellow. Even after retiring, he continued to write on theological subjects.

During the First World War, Telfer served as a chaplain and was awarded the Military Cross in the 1916 Birthday Honours.[5]

  1. ^ New General Catalog of Old Books and Authors
  2. ^ a b "Faculty of Divinity : Ely professors". University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ "A golden era of theology" (PDF). Clare News. No. 12. 2003. pp. 14/15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2003.
  4. ^ "Selwyn College 1882 - 1973 :A Short History". sel.cam.ac.uk. The Master, Fellow and Scholars Selwyn College, Cambridge. 1973. Archived from the original on 16 April 2004.
  5. ^ "Rev Canon William Telfer". The Times. London. 15 January 1968. p. 8.