Edward Henry Bickersteth (January 25, 1825,
Islington - May 16, 1906) was a
bishop in the
Church of England.
Edward Henry Bickersteth was the son of Edward Bickersteth, Rector of
Watton, Hertfordshire. He was educated at
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1847,[1] and was awarded the
Chancellor's Gold Medal for poetry in 1844, 1845 and 1846.[2]
On taking
Holy Orders in 1848, he became
curate of
Banningham,
Norfolk, and then of Christ Church,
Tunbridge Wells. He was called to the
Rectory of
Hinton Martell in 1852 and to the
Vicarage of Christ Church,
Hampstead in 1855. In 1885 he became
Dean of Gloucester and in the same year
Bishop of Exeter.
He edited
hymnals and was an accomplished
poet. Beginning with a volume of
poems in 1849, he published extensively. His Hymnal Companion called forth from
Dr. Julian, editor of A Dictionary of Hymnology, these high words of praise: "Of its kind and from its theological standpoint, as an evangelical hymn book, it is in poetic grace, literary excellence, and lyric beauty, the finest collection in the Anglican Church;" and the author's contributions to this volume are pronounced "very beautiful and of much value.