Name: Philip Constable Ellis

Author: Robert Thomas Jenkins

second son of John Ellis of Rhyllech, Pwllheli (J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees, 398). He went to Jesus College, Oxford (from Beaumaris grammar school), matriculating 6 June 1840, ‘aged 18,’ graduated in 1843 (his own statement; Foster says 1844), and was there powerfully influenced by the Tractarian movement, of which he became one of the earliest propagators in North Wales. Ordained in 1846, he became in 1847 curate to Charles Williams (1806 — 1877) (afterwards principal of Jesus) at Holyhead. In 1850 he was perpetual curate of Llanfaes and Penmon, but in 1862 became rector of Llanfairfechan, remaining there (though he was thrice offered a deanery in Wales) till his death, 10 May 1900. He showed much zeal in promoting daily services, and changes in the furnishing and ritual of churches. His uncompromising Anglo-Catholicism not only led him to refuse to co-operate in any way with Dissenters (a matter on which he came into conflict with some clergymen of an older stamp), but also involved him in a heated controversy with his bishop (Christopher Bethell); the bishop, though himself a High-Churchman, accused Ellis of ‘exciting a mischievous agitation,’ but had to drop an attempt to discipline him in view of support given to Ellis by a number of influential clergymen in the diocese