Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Noel, Gerard Thomas

by Augustus Robert Buckland

NOEL, GERARD THOMAS (1782–1851), divine, born on 2 Dec. 1782, was second son of Sir Gerard Noel-Noel, bart., and Diana, only child of Charles Middleton, first lord Barham [q. v.], and was elder brother of Baptist Wriothesley Noel [q. v.] Sir Gerard's eldest son Charles was created in 1841 Earl of Gainsborough, and thenceforth the brothers were allowed to bear the courtesy prefix of 'honourable,' as in the case of sons of peers. Gerard was educated at Edinburgh and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1805 and M.A. in 1808. On taking holy orders he held successively the curacy of Radwell, Hertfordshire, and the vicarage of Rainham, Essex, and Romsey, Hampshire. He was instituted to the last in 1840. He was also appointed in 1834 to an honorary canonry at Winchester. At Romsey he restored the abbey church. Noel was for many years a close friend of Bishop Samuel Wilberforce [q. v.], who eulogises his character, influence, and worth in a preface to Noel's 'Sermons preached at Romsey.' Noel was twice married, first in 1806 to Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Sir Lucius O'Brien, and secondly in 1841 to Susan, daughter of Sir John Kennaway. He died at Romsey on 24 Feb. 1851. His published works were:

1. 'A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship' (a compilation which includes compositions of his own), 1810.
2. 'Arvendel, or Sketches in Italy and Switzerland,' 1813.
3. 'Fifty Sermons for the Use of Families,' 1826, 1827.
4. 'A Brief Inquiry into the Prospects of the Church of Christ,' 1828.
5. 'Fifty Sermons preached at Romsey.' Preface by Bishop S. Wilberforce, 1853.

[Debrett's Genealogical Peerage, 1844, art. Gainsborough, Earl of;' Romilly's Graduati Cantabrigienses, 1856, p. 279; Foster's Index Ecclesiasticus, 1890, p. 130; preface to Sermons preached at Romsey; Julian's Dict. of Hymnology, 1892, p. 809.]

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