Inglis, Charles

(1734-Feb. 24, 1816). Church of England clergyman and Loyalist. He was born in Ireland, probably at Glencolumbkille, County Donegal. Inglis came to the American colonies around 1755 and taught in the Free School at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He went to England in 1758. He was ordained deacon on Sept. 24, 1758, and priest on Dec. 24, 1758. Inglis was appointed a Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) missionary at Dover, Delaware, with responsibility for the entire county of Kent. After six years at Dover, he went to New York to be the assistant minister at Trinity Church. He began his duties there on June 7, 1765. In New York he became friends with Thomas Bradbury Chandler, rector of St. John's Church, Elizabethtown, New Jersey. They were leaders in calling for the Episcopate for the American colonies. Inglis became rector of Trinity Church when his predecessor, Samuel Auchmuty, died in 1777. Inglis was a leading Loyalist and very much opposed to the Revolution. Opposition against him mounted. On Nov. 1, 1783, he resigned as rector of Trinity Church and went to England. On Aug. 12, 1787, at Lambeth Palace, he was consecrated the Bishop of Nova Scotia for what was to become the Anglican Church of Canada. He was the first overseas bishop of the Church of England. He died in Halifax.