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Birth & Early Childhood
John Charlton Polkinghorne was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England. He was raised in a quiet Church of England family and proved his astonishing mathematical abilities at a young age. Pallardy, Richard. “John Polkinghorne.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 July 2009, www.britannica.com/biography/John-Polkinghorne. -
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Life as a Professor
Upon receiving his doctorates in Quantum Field Theory, Polkinghorne received an offer for lectureship in theoretical physics in Edinburgh, Scotland. in 1958, he received the same offer in Cambridge. Then in 1968 he was elevated to Professor of mathematical physics. 6 years later, he received an additional doctorates in Elementary Particle Physics from Trinity College. In 1977, he entered the ordained ministry of the Church of England, which led to his resignation in 1979. -
The Quark
In 1964, the quark which is the smallest elementary particle of matter, was discovered by Murray Gell-Mann. Polkinghorne had worked along side Gell-Mann during his fellowship in 1955, developing theories in particle physics and mathematical equations that helped lead to the discovery.
Merali, Zeeya. “The Priest-Physicist Who Would Marry Science to Religion.” Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2019, www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/priest-physicist-who-would-marry-science-religion. -
From Professor to Anglican Priest
In 1979, Polkinghorne resigned as Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge. In 1982 he was officially ordained as a priest in the Church of England. Rolnick, Philip. “In Memoriam: John Polkinghorne—A Life Well Lived.” Logos (Saint Paul, Minn.), vol. 24, no. 4, Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas, 2021, pp. 21–26, https://doi.org/10.1353/log.2021.0024. -
Science and Theology
In 1988, Polkinghorne published his book, Science and Theology. Like some of his other works, in this book, Polkinghorne explains the relation between science and theology and how they work together. Within his lifetime, especially as a Priest, Polkinghorne tried to close the divide between the two fields. -
Templeton Prize
Three years after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Polkinghorne received the Templeton Prize. As stated by the Templeton Foundation, this prize “honors individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templeton’s philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the uni- verse and humankind’s place and purpose within it.” -
Death
After living a life of being a mathematical physicist, Anglican priest, and worldwide leader in science and theology, Polkinghorne died at the age of 90. At the time of his death, he had published 34 books, most of which explained the relation between science and religion Rolnick, Philip. “In Memoriam: John Polkinghorne—A Life Well Lived.” Logos (Saint Paul, Minn.), vol. 24, no. 4, Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas, 2021, pp. 21–26, https://doi.org/10.1353/log.2021.0024.