# John Festing

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**John Wogan Festing** (13 August 1837 in [Stourton](/source/Stourton,_Somerset), England – 28 December 1902) was an English clergyman who was [Bishop of St Albans](/source/Bishop_of_St_Albans) from 1890 to 1902.[1][2]

## Life

Festing was the son of Richard Grindall Festing, of Westminster, and Eliza Mammatt, daughter of Edward Mammatt.[1] He was born in 1837 at Brook House in [Stourton, Somerset](/source/Stourton,_Somerset) (now in [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire)) and educated at [King's School, Bruton](/source/King's_School,_Bruton) and [King's College School](/source/King's_College_School), [London](/source/London).[3] His younger brother was Major-General [Edward R. Festing](/source/Edward_R._Festing) (1839–1912), a [Royal Engineer](/source/Royal_Engineer) and [chemist](/source/Chemist) who became the first Director of the [Science Museum](/source/Science_Museum_(London)) in London.[1]

Festing received a [BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree from [Trinity College, Cambridge](/source/Trinity_College,_Cambridge) in 1860.[2][3] He was ordained deacon in 1860, and priest the following year, and subsequently served as curate of Christ Church, [Westminster](/source/Westminster), [London](/source/London), from 1860 to 1873. In 1873, he became vicar of St Luke's Church, [Berwick Street](/source/Berwick_Street), close to [Seven Dials](/source/Seven_Dials,_London), a parish regarded at the time as demanding due to its poor neighbourhood.[4] After five years, he was on 19 May 1878 appointed vicar of Christ Church, [Albany Street](/source/Albany_Street), a large parish responsible for several church schools. In 1887, he became rural dean of [St Pancras](/source/St_Pancras_New_Church). On 26 June 1888, he became [prebendary](/source/Prebendary) of [Brondesbury](/source/Brondesbury) in [St Paul's Cathedral](/source/St_Paul's_Cathedral).

His final clerical appointment was as Lord Bishop of St Albans on 24 June 1890, to which he was recommended by Dr. [Henry Liddon](/source/Henry_Liddon), a fellow [high churchman](/source/High_churchman). Festing was not well known, and the appointment was unexpected, and apparently not one he himself had wished, as he regarded himself as a poor preacher.[4] The diocese had been created in 1877, had only had one bishop, and was not well established. It covered a large area in the two counties of [Essex](/source/Essex) and [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire), had a comparably small income, and there was no residence. In a contemporary obituary, he was described as a ″businesslike and energetic Bishop of a very difficult diocese″, who was a "diligent student of theological science" and a ″quiet and sympathetic friend to his clergy″.[4]

Festing received a [DD](/source/Doctor_of_Divinity) degree in 1890. He was President of the [Universities' Mission to Central Africa](/source/Universities'_Mission_to_Central_Africa) (1892–1902).

Festing was unmarried, and his house was kept for him by his sister. In early October 1902 he was reported to have been seized by [angina pectoris](/source/Angina_pectoris),[5] and he died at his residence two months later on 28 December 1902.[4]

He was buried at [St Albans Cathedral](/source/St_Albans_Cathedral) in [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire).

## References

1. [John Wogan Festing (I9521)](http://www.webrarian.co.uk/phpGedView/individual.php?pid=I9521&ged=Goddard.ged), PhpGedView.

1. Pearce, Ernest Harold. Vol. 2.

1. "Death of the Bishop of St Albans". No. 36963. 29 December 1902. p. 5.

1. "Court Circular". No. 36900. 16 October 1902.

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