Richard Randall (priest)

Randall was born, into an ecclesiastical family, the eldest son of the Ven. James Randall, in Bloomsbury on 13 April 1824.[1] Richard Randall was first educated at Winchester College, from there he matriculated on 12 May 1842, aged 18 and studied at Christ Church, Oxford.[2] He took his B.A. in 1846 and was awarded his M.A. in 1849.[3] He received the degree of D.D. from his university in 1892.[2]

Randall was ordained in 1847.[4] He was a Curate at St Mary, Binfield, then succeeded Archdeacon Manning (later Cardinal Manning) as Rector of St Mary Magdalene West Lavington, before becoming the first Vicar of All Saints, Clifton, a post he held between 1868 and 1892.[5] While at Clifton he reintroduced the ancient Catholic usages. The principal service on Sunday morning was a Choral Eucharist, presented with all the dignity and solemnity that was possible, but always within the statutes of the Church of England, and the desires of the Bishop.[6]

In 1892 Randall became Dean of Chichester,[7] holding the post for ten years.[8] He found it difficult fitting in with chapter life and when he resigned the deanery in 1901, he wrote to the bishop complaining of the bitter disappointment of these many years.[5]

While dean of Chichester he managed to upset the local citizens; he objected to what he felt was the elaborate music in the cathedral, however the local citizens felt differently and organised a petition asking him to leave the music alone.[5] Also according to the local newspaper he caused great offence by not standing during Handel's Hallelujah chorus.[5] He died, in Bournemouth, on 23 December 1906.[2]

• Bibliographic directory from Project Canterbury