Reginald Heber was an English clergyman,
traveller, man of letters and hymn-writer who, after working as a country
parson for 16 years, served as the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta until his sudden death at the age of 42.
traveller, man of letters and hymn-writer who, after working as a country
parson for 16 years, served as the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta until his sudden death at the age of 42.
The son of a wealthy landowner and clergyman,
Heber gained an early reputation at Oxford University as a poet. After graduation he expanded his
view of the world by undertaking, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, an extended tour of Scandinavia, Russia and
central Europe. He was ordained in 1807, and took over his father’s old parish
of Hodnet in Shropshire. He combined
his pastoral duties with other church offices, hymn-writing, and more general
literary work which included a critical study of the complete works of the
17th-century cleric Jeremy Taylor.
Heber gained an early reputation at Oxford University as a poet. After graduation he expanded his
view of the world by undertaking, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, an extended tour of Scandinavia, Russia and
central Europe. He was ordained in 1807, and took over his father’s old parish
of Hodnet in Shropshire. He combined
his pastoral duties with other church offices, hymn-writing, and more general
literary work which included a critical study of the complete works of the
17th-century cleric Jeremy Taylor.
Heber was consecrated Bishop of Calcutta in
October 1823. During his short episcopate he travelled widely in the areas of India within his diocese, and worked hard to improve the spiritual and
general living conditions of his flock. A combination of arduous duties,
hostile climate and indifferent health brought about his collapse and death
while visiting Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli). On
3 April, after attending an early-morning service at which he gave a blessing
in the Tamil language, Heber returned to
his bungalow for a cold bath. Immediately after plunging into the water he
died, possibly from the shock of the cold water in the intense heat.
October 1823. During his short episcopate he travelled widely in the areas of India within his diocese, and worked hard to improve the spiritual and
general living conditions of his flock. A combination of arduous duties,
hostile climate and indifferent health brought about his collapse and death
while visiting Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli). On
3 April, after attending an early-morning service at which he gave a blessing
in the Tamil language, Heber returned to
his bungalow for a cold bath. Immediately after plunging into the water he
died, possibly from the shock of the cold water in the intense heat.
