Edward Carpenter (priest)
{{Short description|British priest}}
{{Distinguish|Edward Carpenter|Ed Carpenter (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| background = #FFA500
| name = Edward Frederick Carpenter
| image =
| religion = Church of England
| alias =
| Title = Dean of Westminster
| Period = 1974–1985
| Predecessor = Eric Abbott
| Successor = Michael Mayne
| ordination =
| post =
| previous_post =
| present_post =
| birth_date = 27 November 1910
| birth_place =
| death_date = 26 August 1998
| death_place =
}}
Edward Frederick Carpenter {{post-nominals|size=100%|KCVO}} (27 November 1910 – 26 August 1998)[http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person.php?LinkID=mp67252 NPG details] was an Anglican priest and author.Amongst others he wrote "Thomas Sherlock", 1936; "Thomas Tenison, His Life and Times", 1948; "That Man Paul", 1953; "Common Sense about Christian Ethics", 1961; "The English Church", 1966; "Cantuar: the Archbishops in their office", 1971; "Westminster Abbey", "Archbishop Fisher: his life and times", 1991 > British Library website accessed 21:34 GMT 1 March 2010
Life
Carpenter was a native Londoner and the city featured prominently in his life and priestly ministry. He was educated at Strode's Grammar SchoolBeeson, T. R., The Deans (London: SCM Press, 2004) {{ISBN|0-334-02987-2}} and King's College London“Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-19-954087-7}} and ordained in 1936.Crockford's Clerical Directory1940-41 Oxford, OUP,1941 After curacies at Holy Trinity, Marylebone and St Mary's Harrow he was Rector of Great Stanmore.[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-the-rev-edward-carpenter-1174495.html Independent Obituary]
After this his ministry was spent at Westminster Abbey, from 1951 firstly as a canon, then from 1963 to 1974 as archdeacon and finally, from 1974, Dean of Westminster.The Times, Thursday, Apr 25, 1974; pg. 1; Issue 59073; col D New Dean'' One obituary noted "It was unfortunate for the Church that Edward Carpenter was 64 before he became Dean but he has left a legacy of tolerant, determined openness as a vital trait of 20th- century Christianity. He and his wife gave themselves unstintingly to others and contributed a happy sparkle in their home at Westminster in their laughter and scholarship."{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-the-rev-edward-carpenter-1174495.html|title = Obituary: The Rev Edward Carpenter|website = Independent.co.uk|date = 27 August 1998}}
Carpenter retired to Richmond, Surrey. He has four children, David, Michael, Paul and Louise.Westminster Abbey, [https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/edward-carpenter Edward Carpenter: Writer, Priest and Dean], 1998.
Carpenter wrote Common Sense About Christian Ethics as part of the Common Sense series.
He was the first chairman of the Week of Prayer for World Peace, a global interfaith initiative created by the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship.{{cite web |url=http://www.anglicanpacifists.com/uploads/docs/79-Anniversary%20edition.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719123342/http://www.anglicanpacifists.com/uploads/docs/79-Anniversary%20edition.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-19 }}
In 2017, Michael De-la-Noy published a biography of Carpenter, A Liberal and Godly Dean: The Life of Edward Carpenter (Gloriette Publications).Harvey, A., [https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/3-march/books-arts/book-reviews/a-liberal-and-godly-dean-by-michael-de-la-noy "A Liberal and Godly Dean by Michael De-la-Noy: Anthony Harvey recalls Edward Carpenter’s inspired eccentricity"], Church Times, Mar 2017.
Animal welfare
Carpenter was a vice-president of the RSPCA and president of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals.Linzey, Andrew; Regan, Tom. (2007). Animals and Christianity: A Book of Readings. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 207. {{ISBN|978-1725220881}}
Selected publications
- Common Sense About Christian Ethics (1964)
- Cantuar: The Archbishops in their Office (1971)
- Animals and Ethics (1981)
References
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{{s-bef|before=Eric Abbott}}
{{s-ttl|title=Dean of Westminster|years=1974–1985}}
{{s-aft|after=Michael Mayne}}
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{{s-bef|before=Leonard Wilson}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the Modern Churchpeople's Union|years=1966 – {{circa|1990}}}}
{{s-aft|after=Peter Selby}}
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{{Deans of Westminster}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carpenter, Edward Frederick}}
Category:British animal welfare workers
Category:People educated at Strode's Grammar School
Category:Alumni of King's College London
Category:Associates of King's College London
Category:Alumni of the Theological Department of King's College London
Category:20th-century English Anglican priests
Category:20th-century British writers
Category:Canons of Westminster