Edwin Palmer

Edwin James Palmer was the Bishop of Bombay from 1908 until 1929.^[1] He was born in 1869 into a noted family^[2] and educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford.^[3] Ordained in 1896^[4] he was elected a Fellow of his old college ^[5] and was Tutor ^[6] and Chaplain there until he ascended to the Episcopate ^[7] where (according to his Times obituary) he was

“moderate in opinion and accommodating in all things except where basic beliefs and principles were involved”.^[8]

A prolific author,^[9] in retirement he continued to serve the church ^[10] until his death on 28 March 1954 and his extensive papers are preserved for posterity within the Lambeth Palace Library.^[11]

Palmer was the subject of a clerihew which acquired some currency at Oxford:^[12]

"J. A. Smith

Said Christianity was a myth;
When he grew calmer

They sent for Mr Palmer."

Notes

1. "A history of the Church of England in India since the early days of the East India Company” Chatterton, E: London: SPCK, 1924
2. His father was Edwin Palmer, sometime Archdeacon of Oxford and a younger brother of Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne.
3. Who was Who 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
4. The Times, Tuesday, Sep 22, 1896; pg. 5; Issue 35002; col D Ordinations. Durham
5. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Studdert-Kennedy,G: ‘Palmer, Edwin James (1869–1954)’, Oxford, OUP Sept 2004 ISBN 0-19-861411-X
6. National Archive details
7. The Times, Monday, Apr 20, 1908; pg. 7; Issue 38625; col A New Bishop of Bombay
8. The Times, Tuesday, Mar 30, 1954; pg. 8; Issue 52893; col D Bishop E. J. Palmer Missionary In India
9. 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”
10. 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
11. Collection details
12. Letter from Conrad Russell to Helen Asquith, 13 December 1927, in Letters of Conrad Russell 1897-1947 (John Murray, London, 1987), at page 94.