Edward Mercer

John Edward Mercer, DD (13 February 1857 – 28 April 1922)[1] was the Anglican Bishop of Tasmania from 1902 until 1914.[2]

For Edward Mercer (MP), see Northampton (UK Parliament constituency). For the fictional character, see Ed Mercer.

Biography

Mercer was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, the son of a clergyman, and educated at Rossall School and Lincoln College, Oxford.[3] Ordained by the Bishop of Durham in 1880, his first post was as a curate at Tanfield, Durham, followed by a year at Penshaw. He was then Chaplain/Missioner at his old school before two Manchester incumbencies at Angel Meadow and Gorton.[4][5] Nearly all his work during his early years was in poor, working-class parishes, and he took a great interest in social work, including work to improve living conditions in Manchester.[4]

He was appointed Bishop of Tasmania in May 1902,[4] and consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul's Cathedral on 13 July 1902.[6] He had received the honorary degree Doctor of Divinity (DD) from the University of Oxford the previous month.[7]

An eminent Christian scholar,[8] on his return from the colonial episcopate he continued to serve the Church as a Canon Residentiary at Chester Cathedral and finally, from 1919 until his death, as Archdeacon of Macclesfield. During the First World War, he deputised for Francis Jayne, bishop of Chester, whose health was fragile, on a number of occasions.[9]

He had married firstly Josephine Archdall, who died in Tasmania. He later remarried Harriet Ethel Bennion on his return to England.[10]

References
  1. "News Summary". The Daily Telegraph (Hobart). Vol. XLII, no. 102. Tasmania, Australia. 1 May 1922. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ADB
  3. Malden Richard (ed) (1920). Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1920 (51st edn). London: The Field Press. p. 1024.
  4. "Ecclesiastical intelligence". The Times. No. 36759. London. 5 May 1902. p. 12.
  5. St Michael, Manchester (1889-97); St James, Gorton (1897-1902) Who was Who 1987-1990: London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  6. "Ecclesiastical intelligence". The Times. No. 36820. London. 15 July 1902. p. 7.
  7. "University intelligence". The Times. No. 36779. London. 28 May 1902. p. 12.
  8. Nature Mysticism Archived 2007-12-24 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Chester Diocesan Gazettes, published monthly, frequently refer to the fragile health of the bishop, and to Mercer providing episcopal support from 1917.
  10. "John Edward Mercer". Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies. Retrieved 2 May 2012.


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