Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–86,) born Richard Trench, was an Irish Anglican archbishop and poet. He held the office of Archbishop of Dublin 1864–84.
Born in Dublin, Trench educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, he became curate in 1841 to the English bishop Samuel Wilberforce, and during 1835–46 published six volumes of poetry. In 1845, he became rector of Itchenstoke and, in 1847, professor of theology at King’s College London. In 1856, he became the Dean of Westminster, and, from 1864–84, he was Archbishop of Dublin.
In philology, Trench popularized the scientific study of words, and the New English Dictionary (later the Oxford English Dictionary) was launched at his suggestion. His principal works were Notes on the Parables of Our Lord (1841,) Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord (1846,) and The Study of Words (1851.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Richard Chenevix Trench
Speak but little and well if you would be esteemed a man of merit.
—Richard Chenevix Trench
Topics: Speech
None but God can satisfy the longings of the immortal soul; as the heart was made for him, he only can fill it.
—Richard Chenevix Trench
Topics: Religion
Language is the amber in which a thousand precious thoughts have been safely embedded and preserved. It has arrested ten thousand lightning-flashes of genius, which, unless thus fixed and arrested, might have been as bright, but would have also been as quickly passing and perishing as the lightning. Words convey the mental treasures of one period to the generations that follow; and laden with this, their precious freight, they sail safely across gulfs of time in which empires have suffered shipwreck, and the languages of common life have sunk into oblivion.
—Richard Chenevix Trench
Topics: Language, Words
For we must share, if we would keep, that blessing from above; ceasing to give, we cease to have; such is the law of love.
—Richard Chenevix Trench
Topics: Service, Sharing
Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness.
—Richard Chenevix Trench
Topics: Prayer
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