Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Medd, Peter Goldsmith

by W. B. Owen

MEDD, PETER GOLDSMITH (1829–1908), theologian, born on 18 July 1829, was eldest son of John Medd, F.R.C.S., of Leyburn, Yorkshire, who practiced at Stockport, by his wife Sarah, daughter of William Goldsmith. After education at King's College, London, where he was associate in theology in 1840 and subsequently honorary fellow, Medd matriculated at St. John's College, Oxford, on 1 March 1818, whence he migrated as scholar to University College, graduating B.A. there in 1852, and proceeding M.A. in 1865. He was fellow of University College from 1852 to 1877, bursar in 1856, tutor from 1861 to 1870, dean and librarian (1861). Taking holy orders in 1853, he served the curacy of St. John the Baptist, Oxford (1858-67), and leaving Oxford in 1870 was rector of Barnes until 1876. He declined in 1875 an offer of the bishopric of Brechin; from 1876 till his death he was rector of North Cerney, Cirencester. In 1877 Medd was made honorary canon of St. Albans. He took a leading part in the establishment of Keble College, Oxford, of the council of which he was senior member in 1871. He was select preacher at Oxford in 1881 and Bampton lecturer in 1882. His Bampton lectures, 'The One Mediator,' published in 1884, although condensed and harsh in style, show great learning. In 1883 he was proctor in convocation for the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.

Medd took a keen interest in the higher education of women, and represented his university on the council of Cheltenham Ladies' College. He died, after a long illness, at North Cerney on 25 July 1908, and was buried there. He married on 19 Jan. 1876 Louisa, daughter of Alexander Nesbitt of Byfield House, Barnes, who with six sons and two daughters survived him. A learned authority on the liturgy, Medd edited with William Bright [q. v. Suppl. II] in 1865 the 'Liber precum publicarom ecclesiae Anglicanae,' the Latin version of the Prayer Book. He contributed in 1869 an historical introduction to Henry Baskerville Walton's edition of the first Prayer Book of Edward VI and the ordinal of 1549, and in 1892 he edited Andrewes's 'Greek Devotions' from a manuscript annotated by Andrewes himself, which was discovered by Robert George Livingstone, tutor of Pembroke College. This manuscript was an earlier and more authentic transcript than that made in 1648 for Richard Drake, on which all previous editions had been baaed. Besides the works mentioned, Medd published several sermons and devotional volumes, including:

1. 'The Christian Meaning of the Psalms and the Supernatural of Christian Truth,' 1862.
2. 'The Church and Wesleyanism,' 1868.
3. 'Home Reunion,' 1871.
4. 'Catholic Unity,' 1875.
5. 'The Country Clergyman's Ideal,' 1887.

He also contributed the introductory memoir to 'Selected Letters of William Bright,' 1903.

[The Times, 28 July 1908; Brit. Mus. Cat.; private information.]

W. B. O.