George Lavington
George Lavington (18 January 1684 – 13 September 1762) was Bishop of Exeter from 1746 to 1762.Born in Mildenhall, Wiltshire to Rev Joseph Lavington and his wife Elizabeth née Constable, he was educated at New College, Oxford (becoming a fellow in 1708) and later appointed Chaplain to King George I. He served as a prebendary at Worcester Cathedral. Later, he served as Weldland prebendary at St Paul's Cathedral, London. On 8 February 1746, he was consecrated Bishop of Exeter at Lambeth Palace, which post he held until death.
He was an ardent opponent of Methodism. On being appointed bishop of Exeter, which included Cornwall, one of his first acts was to close the pulpits of North Cornwall to Methodists. He also produced a stream of letters and pamphlets attacking Methodism and John Wesley. One of these pamphlets contained an accusation against Wesley concerning his conduct with women, and in particular that he had made indecent advances to the maid of a Mrs Morgan at Mitchell in Cornwall. When Wesley investigated he found that Mrs Morgan was merely a gossip, and that Lavington had never troubled to verify the truth of the statements. Lavington also attacked George Whitfield, although their relations were better and Lavington once came with his clergy to hear Whitfield preach.
A reconciliation took place between the Bishop and John Wesley when they had dinner together on 29 August 1762 after receiving the Sacrament together in Exeter Cathedral. The prelate died a fortnight later.
A portrait painting of Lavington from the early 1760s by Thomas Gainsborough survives.
An epitaph by Subdean Barton is on a tablet behind the sedilia in the south aisle of Exeter Cathedral, describing him as a pattern for Christian bishops. Provided by Wikipedia
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1746
Published 1746
printed by J. Oliver, Printer to the said Society, in Bartholomew-Close; and sold by B. Dod, Bookseller, at the Bible and Key in Ave-Mary Lane
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1725
Published 1725
printed for James and John Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and Samuel Mountfort, Bookseller in Worcester
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1745
Published 1745
printed for John and Paul Knapton, in Ludgate-Street; and James Leake, Bookseller in Bath
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1756
Published 1756
printed for and sold by Edward Score, Bookseller, over - against the Guildhall; and sold also by Banabas Thorn, Bookseller, in St. Peter's Church-Yard; and Messrs. Knapton, Booksellers, in Ludgate-Street, London
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1753
Published 1753
printed for Benjamin Matthews, Bookseller in Marchants-Court, Bath: and sold by J. and P. Knapton, in Ludgate-Street, London; and by the booksellers in town and country
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1747
Published 1747
printed for John and Paul Knapton, at the Crown in Ludgate-Street
|
by Lavington, George
Published 1735
Published 1735
printed for James, John, and Paul Knapton, at the Crown in Ludgate Street