William Coleridge

Memorial in St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary

The Rt Rev William Hart Coleridge (27 June 1789 – 20 December 1849) was the first Bishop of Barbados from 1824 until 1842.

Life

He was born on 27 June 1789. He was the only son of Luke Herman Coleridge of Thorverton, Devonshire, and his wife, Sarah, the third daughter of Richard Hart of Exeter. His father (a brother of Samuel Taylor Coleridge) died during his infancy, and he was educated by his uncle, the Rev. George Coleridge, master of the grammar school of Ottery St. Mary. He entered as a commoner of Christ Church, Oxford, under Cyril Jackson, and was noticed for his 'earnest application and sweetness of manners.' He graduated B.A. 21 November 1811, M.A. 1 June 1814, B.C. 17 June 1824, D.D. 18 June 1824.[1]

Soon after leaving the university he became one of the curates of St. Andrew's, Holborn, and afterwards secretary to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; he was also preacher at the National Society's chapel in Ely Place. In 1824, he was consecrated bishop of Barbados. During his enrollment on the 29th January 1829 the streets of Bridgetown, Barbados, from Trafalgar Square to St. Michael’s Cathedral were lined with the four companies of the Royal Militia presided over by Major George Walrond (co-heir to the Barony of Welles). He found the diocese in an unsatisfactory condition. The number of clergymen and churches was insufficient, and there were few daily schools and Sunday schools. In his first charge (delivered in 1830) the bishop notes an improvement, especially in the condition of the negroes, who had now almost entirely abandoned such customs as the howlings over the dead and the offering of food at graves. In a charge delivered in July 1838, just before the legal emancipation of the slaves in the West Indian colonies, he states that the negroes 'flock to the churches and chapels,' and are 'civil in their behaviour' and 'decent in their appearance.' At this time the number of communicants was unusually large. There were 99 clergy in the diocese, 42 school-houses, and 53 parish churches. Seven of the churches had now been rebuilt after their destruction in the great hurricane which devastated Barbados on 11 August 1831.[1]

In 1841, after about sixteen years' zealous labour, Coleridge was compelled to resign his see through the failure of his health. The large diocese was then divided, the three archdeaconries of Barbados, Antigua, and Guiana being erected into separate sees.[1]

On the establishment of St. Augustine's Missionary College at Canterbury, Coleridge was induced to become the first warden, and held the office till his death, which took place very suddenly, 21 December 1849, at his seat of Salston, Ottery St. Mary.[2][3] Coleridge was a member of the Canterbury Association from 27 March 1848 until his death.[3]

Family

He married, in 1825, the eldest daughter of Dr. Thomas Rennell, dean of Winchester and master of the Temple. She was a granddaughter of Sir William Blackstone, the judge. He had by her a son and a daughter who survived him.[1]

Works

Among Coleridge's published writings are :

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wroth 1887.
  2. ↑ "Death Of The Right Rev. Bishop Coleridge", The Times; Thursday, Dec 27, 1849; pg. 4; Issue 20370; col D
  3. 1 2 Blain, Rev. Michael (2007). The Canterbury Association (1848-1852): A Study of Its Members’ Connections (PDF). Christchurch: Project Canterbury. pp. 24–25. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wroth, Warwick William (1887). "Coleridge, William Hart". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography. 11. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 

Further reading

Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by
Inaugural appointment		 Bishop of Barbados
1824–1842 		Succeeded by
Thomas Parry
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