James Palmer (bishop)

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

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. "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 Walter Ruthven Pym	Bishop of Bombay 1908 – 1929	Succeeded by Richard Dyke Acland