Chavasse family

The Chavasse family is a British family with roots in the West Midlands and an early documented connection to Claude Chavasse, who came from the borderlands of France and Savoy and settled in Burford, Oxfordshire. A burial-register entry from April 1734 identifies Claude as a Roman Catholic, providing an early record of the family's presence in England. Over subsequent generations, members of the family became prominent in several fields, especially surgery and medicine, the Church of England, military service, and sport. The family's best-known institutional and public figures include Francis Chavasse, Bishop of Liverpool, who played an important role in the development of Liverpool Cathedral and founded St Peter's College, Oxford. His identical-twin sons Christopher and Noel Chavasse became notable in different spheres. Christopher was an Olympic athlete and later Bishop of Rochester, while Noel served as a medical officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War. Noel was awarded the Victoria Cross twice, making him one of only three people to receive two Victoria Crosses. He also received the Military Cross and had represented Britain as an Olympic athlete. Other family members contributed to British medicine and wartime service. Thomas Chavasse was a surgeon with MD and FRCS qualifications, and Sir Thomas Frederick Chavasse was a distinguished surgeon who was knighted in 1905. Francis Bernard Chavasse became an ophthalmic surgeon and was associated with the medical text Worth's Squint. Several members of the wider family served in the Royal Army Medical Corps or were involved in wartime nursing and support work. The family also includes Claude Chavasse, born in 1886, who was a Gaelic-language activist and Irish republican and a cousin of Noel Chavasse. This illustrates the breadth of the family’s public affiliations beyond the English medical and ecclesiastical establishment. Family memorials remain visible in Liverpool and Oxford. Chavasse Park in Liverpool bears the family name, while the chapel of St Peter's College, Oxford, contains several memorials, including Noel Chavasse's original grave cross, a memorial window, and a bas-relief of Bishop Francis Chavasse. Members of the family continue to live in the United Kingdom, although the family is not a commercial brand or operating company.

The documented history of the Chavasse family begins with Claude Chavasse, who migrated from the borders of France and Savoy and settled in Burford, Oxfordshire. His burial entry from April 1734 records his Roman Catholic identity. The family later became established in the West Midlands, where successive generations produced surgeons, clergy, military medical officers, athletes, and other public figures. Thomas Chavasse, born in Warwick in 1800, was a physician and surgeon holding MD and FRCS qualifications. His descendants included Charles Edward Chavasse and Francis Chavasse, as well as Sir Thomas Frederick Chavasse. Francis Chavasse became Bishop of Liverpool and was active in the construction and institutional development of Liverpool Cathedral. He also founded St Peter's College, Oxford, creating an enduring connection between the family and that institution. Sir Thomas Frederick Chavasse was a surgeon who received a knighthood in 1905. Francis Chavasse's sons Christopher and Noel, born as identical twins in Oxford in 1884, became the family's most internationally recognized figures. Christopher Chavasse competed as an Olympic athlete and later entered the Anglican ministry, eventually becoming Bishop of Rochester. Noel Chavasse trained and served as a medical officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War. He was decorated with the Military Cross and was awarded the Victoria Cross twice for bravery while treating and rescuing wounded soldiers under fire. He remains one of the very small number of double recipients of the Victoria Cross. The family’s medical tradition continued through figures such as Francis Bernard Chavasse, an ophthalmic surgeon associated with the reference work Worth's Squint, and through other relatives who practiced surgery or served with military medical units. Arthur Ryland Chavasse served as a Royal Army Medical Corps captain and died in France during the First World War. Aidan Chavasse also died while serving in Flanders. Frances Gladys Ryland Chavasse was mentioned in dispatches for her work connected with the Italian campaign at Monte Cassino in 1945. The family was not limited to British Anglican or medical circles. Claude Chavasse, born in 1886 and a cousin of Noel, became involved in Gaelic-language activism and Irish republicanism. The family's historical profile therefore combines Catholic origins, later Anglican leadership, professional medicine, military service, athletics, and political-cultural activism. Commemorations of the family survive in Liverpool and Oxford. Chavasse Park in Liverpool is named for the family, while St Peter's College chapel contains a group of related memorials, including Noel Chavasse's original grave cross, a memorial window, and a sculptural memorial to Bishop Francis Chavasse. The family continues to have members living in the United Kingdom.

• 1917

  Death of Noel Chavasse

  [1]Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org

  Captain Noel Chavasse died in Brandhoek, Belgium, during the First World War after serving as a medical officer and receiving the Victoria Cross twice.

• 1905

  Thomas Frederick Chavasse receives a knighthood

  [1]Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org

  Surgeon Thomas Frederick Chavasse was knighted for his professional and public contributions.

• 1884

  Birth of Christopher and Noel Chavasse

  [1]Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org

  Identical twins Christopher and Noel Chavasse were born in Oxford. Christopher later became a bishop and Olympic athlete, while Noel became a decorated military doctor and Olympic athlete.

• 1846

  Birth of Francis Chavasse

  [1]Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org

  Francis Chavasse was born in Sutton Coldfield and later became Bishop of Liverpool and founder of St Peter's College, Oxford.

• 1734

  Early English record of Claude Chavasse

  [1]Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org

  Claude Chavasse's burial entry in Burford, Oxfordshire, records him as a Roman Catholic and provides an early documented reference to the family in England.

A historical British family associated with medical, ecclesiastical, military, athletic, and civic contributions rather than with commercial products or services.

1. 1Chavasse familyen.wikipedia.org