Edward Henry Bickersteth (1825-1906 / England)

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, and was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal for poetry in 1844, 1845 and 1846.

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."