Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blakeney, Richard Paul
BLAKENEY, RICHARD PAUL (1820–1884), canon of York, was descended from an old Norfolk family, which had removed to Ireland before his birth. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1842, taking high honours in theology. In 1852 he proceeded LL.B. and LL.D. He became curate of St. Paul's, Nottingham, in 1843, vicar of Hyson Green, Nottinghamshire, in 1844, vicar of Christ Church, Claughton, Birkenhead, in January 1852, vicar of Bridlington in 1874, rural dean of Bridlington in 1876, and canon of York in 1882. The university of Edinburgh conferred on him the degree of D.D. in 1868. Blakeney died at Bridlington on 31 Dec. 1884. He was well known as a vigorous champion of evangelical doctrines in the church of England, and was the author of a large number of controversial books and tracts, which attained a wide circulation. The chief of these are: 1. 'Translation of the Moral Theology of Alphonsus Liguori,' 1845, 2nd ed. 1852. 2. 'A Manual of Romish Controversy, being a complete Refutation of the Creed of Pope Pius IV,' 1851 (this work is stated to have passed through ten editions). 3. 'Protestant Catechism, or Popery refuted and Protestantism established by the Word of God,' 1854. 4. 'History and Interpretation of the Book of Common Prayer,' 1865, 3rd ed. 1878.
[Times, 2 Jan. 1885; Men of the Time (11th ed.), 136; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1883.]