author
John Percival
1834–1918
A Victorian churchman and educator, he is best remembered for shaping major English schools before serving as Bishop of Hereford. His writing reflects a life spent in the classroom, the pulpit, and public debate.
1 Audiobook
Sermons at Rugby
by John Percival
About the author
Born in Westmorland in 1834, John Percival studied at Queen's College, Oxford, became a fellow there in 1858, and was ordained soon afterward. He went on to build his reputation in education, first as the founding headmaster of Clifton College and later as headmaster of Rugby School.
In 1895 he became Bishop of Hereford. Alongside his church work, he was known for strong views on education and public life, and he supported wider access to learning through causes such as adult education.
Percival also published sermons and other religious writing, including Sermons at Rugby. He died in 1918, leaving a legacy that links Victorian schooling, Anglican church life, and a belief that education should matter beyond the classroom.