William Gilpin
1724 - 1804
Theorist, Teacher, Artist, Clergyman, Biographer, and Travel Writer.

Probably best known for his writing on art and aesthetics, William Gilpin was founder of the aesthetic school of the picturesque.

Church of England schools welcome all pupils from their local community, including members of other faiths.

If there is a shortage of places in the school, the admissions policy set by the governing bodies of voluntary aided, academies and foundation schools will give an order of preference to categories of pupils.
Admissions policies are set by the governing body and differ from school to school: some ask for evidence of active involvement in the local church, others look at pupils' travelling distance from school or at medical reasons for needing a particular school.
Voluntary controlled schools have their admissions determined by the Local Education Authority.

GENERAL
INFORMATION

Although a clergyman, being a school master is probably what most shaped his life. He developed enlightened and innovative theories about education and the discipline of his pupils.

William often became both patron and drawing master to skilled pupils and many of them eventually became professional artists.

He was borne on 4th June 1724, Carlisle, Cumberland, to art loving parents. He died in Boldre on 5th April 1804.

Gilpin published his popular Essay on Prints In 1768, in which he defined the picturesque as '"that kind of beauty which is agreeable in a picture" and began to expound his "principles of picturesque beauty", based largely on his knowledge of landscape painting.

During the late 1760s and 1770s Gilpin travelled extensively in the summer holidays and applied these principles to the landscapes he saw, committing his thoughts and spontaneous sketches to notebooks.

Development of Church of England schools
Following a report by the Dearing commission in 2001, the General Synod of the Church of England embarked on an ambitious development of 100 additional secondary schools.
By October 2004 over 25 have been opened or expanded, a further 15 are scheduled to open in the next two years and 36 more are at various stages of planning.
The commission's report, "The Way ahead", also challenges the Church by a further range of related proposals to extend its work in education.

For further information about the work of The Way ahead implementation group, contact Email: david.whittington@c-of-e.org.uk.

Linked to

William Gilpin was buried at the church of St John the Baptist, Boldre where he had been the Vicar.