1807–1885

Introduction

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Born: Oc­to­ber 30, 1807, Bock­ing, Es­sex, Eng­land.

Died: March 20, 1885, Lin­coln, Eng­land.

Buried: In the grave­yard of the church at Rise­holme Col­lege, north of Lin­coln. There are me­mo­ri­als to him in Lin­coln Ca­thed­ral and All Saints Church, Hare­wood, York­shire.

portrait
National Portrait Gallery

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portrait

Biography

Christopher was a ne­phew of po­et Will­iam Words­worth, and fa­ther of Eli­za­beth Words­worth.

He was both a scho­lar and ath­lete in his stu­dent days. Later, he served as head­mas­ter of Har­row Boys School (1836–50), which fu­ture prime min­is­ter Win­ston Church­ill would at­tend a cen­tu­ry or so later.

Wordsworth was al­so vi­car at Stan­ford-in-the-Vale, Berk­shire (1850–69), and arch­dea­con of West­min­ster, and be­came bi­shop of Lin­coln in 1868.

A re­cog­nized Greek scho­lar, he wrote theo­lo­gic­al and oth­er works. Of his hymns, he said, It is the first du­ty of a hymn to teach sound doc­trine and thence to save souls.

Works

Sources

Lyrics