Venn Pilcher

{{Short description|Anglican coadjutor bishop}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Portal|Christianity}}

Charles Venn Pilcher (known as Venn; 4 June 1879 – 4 July 1961) was a theologian and clergyman born in England. He was also well known as a writer (as well as translator) of hymns.[https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2585108A/Charles_Venn_Pilcher Open Library]Amongst others he wrote “The Hereafter in Jewish and Christian Thought”, 1937; “ Life in Christ—The Teaching of the Prayer Book for Confirmed Members of the Church of England”, 1945. “That I may know Him—Thoughts on the Holy Communion”, 1947; “The Conduct of Public Worship”, 1948; “Icelandic Christian Classics”, 1949; and “St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, translated in Paraphrase”, 1951 > British Library website accessed 12:58 GMT 16 February 2011 He spent his formative years in England and then moved in 1906 to Canada, where he lived for about three decades. He spent his latter years in Australia.

Pilcher was born in Oxford into a well-known clerical family, among the members of which were Henry Venn (1725-1797), John Venn (1759-1813), Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871), Edward Bishop Elliott (1793-1875), Emily Steele Elliott (1836-1807), Henry Venn Elliott (1792-1865), and Henry Venn the younger (1796-1873). He was educated at Charterhouse School and Hertford College, Oxford.“Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 {{ISBN|0-7136-3457-X}} He was ordained in 1903. He was curate of St Thomas' Church, Birmingham and then domestic chaplain to Handley Moule, the Bishop of Durham.”Bishop Charles Venn Pilcher, D.D.: a biographical study” Laserson, M: Paddington [NSW], A. K. Murray & Co, 1949

He was a professor of the New Testament at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and later of the Old Testament, during which tenure he was also among the founders of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies. He was canon precentor at the Cathedral Church of St James, Toronto from 1931 to 1936. During his time in Toronto he also played the bass clarinet in the Toronto Symphony.

He subsequently became a lecturer in church history at Moore Theological College, Sydney. He was Bishop Coadjutor of Sydney[http://www.hymnary.org/person/Pilcher_CV Hymnary] from his arrival in Sydney until his death. He was a member and the Secretary of the Australian Hymn Supplement Committee, and author of the Preface to the Australian Hymn Supplement to the Book of Common Praise. He wrote hymns and composed tunes for both the original hymn book (produced in Canada) and for the Australian supplement. He was also a keen supporter of the Zionist cause.The Times, 6 July 1961; pg. 25; Issue 55126; col A The Right Rev. C. V. Pilcher