Edwin James Palmer (called James)[1] was the Bishop of Bombay from 1908 until 1929.[2] He was born in 1869 into a noted family[3] and educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford.[4] Made deacon in 1896[5] and ordained priest in 1898,[6] he was elected a Fellow of his old college[7] and was Tutor[8] and Chaplain there until his appointment to the episcopate[9] where (according to his Times obituary) he was

“moderate in opinion and accommodating in all things except where basic beliefs and principles were involved”.[10]

He was consecrated a bishop on Ascension Day 1908 (28 May), by Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Southwark Cathedral.[11] He returned to England in 1929[12] and became Assistant Bishop of Gloucester until his death.[4] A prolific author,[13] in retirement he continued to serve the church[14] until his death on 28 March 1954 and his extensive papers are preserved for posterity within the Lambeth Palace Library.[15]

Palmer was the subject of a clerihew which acquired some currency at Oxford:[16]

"J. A. Smith

Said Christianity was a myth;
When he grew calmer

They sent for Mr Palmer."

References edit

  1. ^ "Edwin James Palmer". Church Times. No. 4756. 2 April 1954. p. 262. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 9 March 2020 – via UK Press Online archives.
  2. ^ "A history of the Church of England in India since the early days of the East India Company” Chatterton, E: London: SPCK, 1924
  3. ^ His father was Edwin Palmer, sometime Archdeacon of Oxford and a younger brother of Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne.
  4. ^ a b "Palmer, Edwin James". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. ^ The Times, Tuesday, Sep 22, 1896; pg. 5; Issue 35002; col D Ordinations. Durham
  6. ^ "New Bishop of Bombay". Church Times. No. 2361. 24 April 1908. p. 562. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 9 March 2020 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Studdert-Kennedy,G: ‘Palmer, Edwin James (1869–1954)’, Oxford, OUP Sept 2004 ISBN 0-19-861411-X
  8. ^ National Archive details
  9. ^ The Times, Monday, Apr 20, 1908; pg. 7; Issue 38625; col A New Bishop of Bombay
  10. ^ The Times, Tuesday, Mar 30, 1954; pg. 8; Issue 52893; col D Bishop E. J. Palmer Missionary In India
  11. ^ "Consecration of bishops". Church Times. No. 2367. 5 June 1908. p. 766. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 9 March 2020 – via UK Press Online archives.
  12. ^ Malden Richard (ed) (1920). Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1920 (51st edn). London: The Field Press. p. 149.
  13. ^ His works included “The Great Church Awakes”, 1920; “The Destiny of the Anglican Churches”, 1931; “The Challenge of an Indian Experience”, 1933;and “Christ's Partners”, 1947”
  14. ^ Chairing an important commission: Dispensation in Practice and Theory. With special reference to the Anglican Churches being the Report of a Commission appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1935 under the chairmanship of Edwin James Palmer,D.D. London, SPCK, 1944
  15. ^ "Collection details". Archived from the original on 18 July 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  16. ^ Letter from Conrad Russell to Helen Asquith, 13 December 1927, in Letters of Conrad Russell 1897-1947 (John Murray, London, 1987), at page 94.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Bombay
1908 – 1929
Succeeded by