MARK OF HENRY DUTTON, LONDON, 1754

Richard Trevor (1707-1771), a celebrated Bishop of Durham, was widely regarded for his solicitude and promotion of religious tolerance during his prelacy. His ‘saintliness’ was acknowledged by the diarist Horace Walpole and his acquaintances, who in jest, cited Trevor as ‘St. Durham’ in their correspondence.

He championed the importance of charity as is evident in his five published sermons, a number of which also supported the supremacy of Hanoverian rule. Renowned for his benevolence, Trevor continued to aid the community in which he lived after his death, leaving a munificent bequest to several charities in his will (Public Record Office Mss. PROB 11/968/346)

Born in 1707 at Glynde, Sussex, the youngest son of Thomas Trevor, first Baron Trevor (bap. 1658, d.1730) and his second wife Anne (d.1746), he was educated at Queen’s College, Oxford graduating in 1727. Trevor was elected a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, before his appointment as Canon of Christ Church in 1735. Following his consecration as Bishop of St David’s in 1744, Trevor was later translated to the see of Durham in 1752 and remained Bishop there until his death in 1771.

Throughout his bishopric Trevor was actively involved in the restoration and development of Auckland Castle, the ancient episcopal seat. His works included the impressive arched gateway which marks the entrance south of the castle. He greatly expanded the art collection, acquiring in 1756 a magnificent series of twelve paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán depicting the twelve sons of Jacob. Arranged in a non-hierarchal manner and with a variety of expressions and poses, the Old Testament figures form a coherent group, akin to a procession. Hung in the dining room of Auckland Castle, these large-scale biblical portraits had more than a decorative effect. Guests would have dined beneath the gaze of these biblical figures, perhaps whilst listening to Bishop Trevor extol on the importance of religious justness and tolerance. He campaigned for the proper treatment of English Jews and was a noted advocate of the Jewish Naturalization Bill passed in 1753, unfortunately repealed the following year.

A statue by Joseph Nollekens of the seated figure of Bishop Trevor was placed in the Bishop's Chapel, Bishop Auckland in 1775. A three-quarter-length portrait of him in clerical robes by Thomas Hudson hangs in Christ Church College, Oxford with further versions in the dining room of Auckland Castle and at his family estate at Glynde Place, Sussex.

In recent years The Auckland Project has funded extensive renovations to Auckland Castle and the town of Bishop Auckland, promoting the heritage of the castle and town. In addition to preserving the Zurbarán portraits and restoring the castle, two new art galleries have been established in the town – a Mining Art Gallery and a gallery dedicated to the art of the Spanish Golden Age, opened by the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III and the Queen of Spain in 2022.