After retiring as Bishop of Liverpool in 1923, Chavasse returned to Oxford, where he was the guiding spirit of the establishment of a new academic institution admitting undergraduates of modest means.

[9] In 1870 Chavasse was ordained priest by James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, and appointed to the curacy of St Paul's, Preston.

[1] Chavasse was not invited for many years to preach before the university,[1] but in the words of The Times, "He had a genius for pastoral work, and his parish became an important centre for those who preferred the simpler services and the more individual teaching of Evangelical Churchmanship.

[10] Chavasse was considered a capable but not an outstanding scholar and theologian;[1] he nevertheless achieved considerable success with his Sunday evening Greek Testament classes for undergraduates.

[9] When the principalship of the evangelically inclined theological college Wycliffe Hall, Oxford fell vacant in 1889, he was invited to take the post.

The outgoing principal, Robert Baker Girdlestone, was known for his great scholarship, but under Chavasse the college suffered no diminution in its prestige.

[9] Students at Wycliffe Hall under Chavasse "stood for bright and reverent services, for diligent visitation, and for keen interest in voluntary schools.

He caused some surprise by offering the bishopric of Liverpool to Chavasse; the diocese was predominantly evangelical, but other eminent clerics from that wing of the church, such as Handley Moule, were better known.

[9] The Manchester Guardian commented "Whereas Dr. Ryle's Low Churchmanship, though mellowed by the years, was still combative, Dr. Chavasse was the least pugnacious of partisans.

While pondering Salisbury's offer, he had written to a friend, "A man with my feeble body, average ability and temperament can hardly be intended by God for such a diocese.

Chavasse made a powerful and effective speech, encouraging the citizens of Liverpool, "We must build for posterity, we must take a leaf out of the book of our noble forefathers, who have handed down to us those great Cathedrals which are among the greatest heritages of the English nation".

Work on the building slowed down drastically with the diversion of men and materials for the war effort, and Chavasse and his wife lost two of their four sons, killed in action in 1917.

[23] When construction resumed after the war, with the choir and transepts nearing completion, he decided that the consecration of the main body of the cathedral should not be the crowning glory of his episcopate, but should be the early landmark of a younger successor.

[1] In those few cases where the more extreme Anglo-Catholics defied church rulings on such matters as the use of incense, Chavasse, said The Times, "manfully stood his ground, speaking his mind as freely about them as he did about the fanatical Orange orators at the other end of the scale.

"[9] However, he was not comfortable with spiritualism and ultimately had one of his clergy, George Vale Owen, who had become an enthusiastic convert, removed from his parish in Orford, Warrington.

Wishing to benefit young men of modest means and evangelical outlook, he worked to use the buildings of St Peter-le Bailey to set up a new academic institution within the university.

The young and the strong can be ready to shoulder the rifle or to draw the sword in defence of our Fatherland, and for the cause of liberty, and peace, and righteousness .....’.

‘We are fighting on the side of God for a cause which He has at heart.’ [31] ‘The English clergy and laity must make supreme efforts not only to deepen the spirit of patriotism amongst our people and to encourage recruiting but to witness and work for Christ’.

He was proud of the sacrifice made not just by his family but also by his clergy who had become chaplains, had joined the Church Army and YMCA and were helping in schools, in agriculture and, in one case, chemical research.