Eric Symes Abbott
Encyclopedia
Eric Symes Abbott KCVO
(26 May 1906 – 6 June 1983) was an English
Anglican priest and Dean of Westminster.
Abbott was born in Nottingham
in 1906 to William Henry Abbott and Mary Symes, both schoolteachers. He was educated at Nottingham High School
and later studied classics and theology at Jesus College
, Cambridge. After graduating he held a number of different posts, such as Chaplain (1932–1936) and Dean (1945–1955) of King's College London
, Warden of Keble College, Oxford
(1956–1960), and Chaplain
to King George VI (1948–1952), and Queen Elizabeth II
(1952–1959). Then, in 1959, he was made Dean of Westminster, a position he held until 1974. Here he presided over the 900th anniversary of the founding of the abbey, in 1965-1966.
Abbott was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
(KCVO) in 1966. Abbott never married. He died at Haslemere
in 1983. In his memory the Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Fund was established, to provide for annual lectures on spirituality, with lectures held alternately at Oxford and London.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(26 May 1906 – 6 June 1983) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Anglican priest and Dean of Westminster.
Abbott was born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in 1906 to William Henry Abbott and Mary Symes, both schoolteachers. He was educated at Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
and later studied classics and theology at Jesus College
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, Cambridge. After graduating he held a number of different posts, such as Chaplain (1932–1936) and Dean (1945–1955) of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, Warden of Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
(1956–1960), and Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to King George VI (1948–1952), and Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
(1952–1959). Then, in 1959, he was made Dean of Westminster, a position he held until 1974. Here he presided over the 900th anniversary of the founding of the abbey, in 1965-1966.
Abbott was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(KCVO) in 1966. Abbott never married. He died at Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
in 1983. In his memory the Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Fund was established, to provide for annual lectures on spirituality, with lectures held alternately at Oxford and London.
Works
- Escape or freedom? (Heffer and Sons, Cambridge, 1939)
- Foothold of faith (Dacre Press, Westminster, 1943)
- Catholicity: a study in the conflict of Christian traditions in the West (Dacre Press, Westminster, 1947)
- Education in the spiritual life (Doncaster, 1961)
- The compassion of God and the Passion of Christ (Geoffrey Bles, London, 1963)