Gorham Controversy
Preserved but no longer current.
This arose out of the refusal (1848) of the bishop of Exeter to institute the Rev. Cornelius Gorham to the vicarage of Brampford Speke, "because he held unsound views on the doctrine of bap- tism.'* After two years* controversy, the Privy Council decided in favour of Mr. Gorham.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Gorham Controversy” mean?
This arose out of the refusal (1848) of the bishop of Exeter to institute the Rev. Cornelius Gorham to the vicarage of Brampford Speke, "because he held unsound views on the doctrine of bap- tism.'* After two years* controversy, the Privy Council decided in favour of Mr. Gorham.
Is “Gorham Controversy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.