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]
Said Christianity was a myth;
When he grew calmerThey sent for Mr Palmer."
