Herbert Hensley Henson
Encyclopedia
Herbert Hensley Henson (known as Hensley; born 1863 in London
, died 1947 in Hintlesham, Suffolk) was an Anglican priest, a controversialist and Bishop of Durham. In the public eye from 1892 after an outburst at a diocesan conference in which he referred to dissenting Protestant churches as “emissaries of Satan”, Henson provoked some bemusement among his peers by entitling his autobiography Retrospect of an Unimportant Life.
Henson was conscious that a significant part of a diocesan bishop’s job must be to accept the responsibilities of a “great national officer”, and even before his elevation to the episcopal bench never avoided speaking his mind publicly on matters which he felt appropriate for a cleric, and continued to do so until his retirement in 1941.
trial of 1899, Henson castigated the French Roman Catholic Church
in his published sermons. In 1912, while canon of Westminster Abbey
, he named from the pulpit the three British directors of the Putumayo
Rubber Company, furious at their acquiescence in the notorious atrocities which the company committed against its Peruvian Indian labour force. In the more strictly ecclesiastical sphere he was vociferous for inter-communion between the Church of England
and all regular Protestant churches, no doubt partly to make amends for his outburst of 1892, which he always regretted. Henson was in some respects a theological liberal, seeking, in the words of Owen Chadwick
, to “restate the doctrines of the Church of England in such a way that they will not offend intelligent men”. His nomination as Bishop of Hereford
in 1917 provoked what Henson himself called a “heresy hunt”. Until 1928 he was a prominent antidisestablishmentarian
. As Bishop of Durham during the years of the Great Depression in the United Kingdom
, Henson spoke out against what he saw as the immorality of the coal-mining unions’ strikes, although fully alive to the hardships suffered by individual miners, and active in local attempts to provide meaningful work for the unemployed. From 1935 onwards he was prominent too among those who protested against the British Government's acceptance of Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia
. In the course of a widely-reported speech in the House of Lords
in May 1938, Henson castigated the prevailing policy of appeasement, referring to Lord Halifax
’s abandonment of Abyssinia as “the cold sophistry of a cynical opportunism”. In the late 1930s he was characteristically uncompromising in his condemnation of the anti-semitic policies of Nazi Germany. In 1940, at Churchill’s personal request, and at the age of 77, Henson was persuaded out of retirement to take up for a second time a Westminster canonry “as a piece of war-work”.
at the age of 20), his increasing involvement in public controversy, and work as Vicar of Barking (1888), Rector of St Margaret’s
and canon of Westminster (1900), Dean of Durham (1915), Bishop of Hereford, then finally as Bishop of Durham, allowed him small leisure for scholarly pursuits. He may have hoped that his published sermons, journal and letters would, like those of one of his ecclesiastical heroes, Robertson of Brighton
, ensure him a growing measure of continuing influence. It was, however, in the day to day fulfilment of the immediate responsibilities of his pastoral and administrative roles that he was agreed to have left the most effective legacy, by those of his contemporaries who knew him best.
's Starbridge series, Glittering Images, carries a quotation from Henson's letters at the beginning of each chapter. In the novel's afterword, Howard acknowledges that the character of Bishop Jardine is based on Henson, whose career and early life are the basis for Howatch's fictional bishop. Howatch outlines the similarities in the two bishops' domestic arrangements as well, but makes no claim to have based the unusual details of Jardine's personal life on Henson's.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, died 1947 in Hintlesham, Suffolk) was an Anglican priest, a controversialist and Bishop of Durham. In the public eye from 1892 after an outburst at a diocesan conference in which he referred to dissenting Protestant churches as “emissaries of Satan”, Henson provoked some bemusement among his peers by entitling his autobiography Retrospect of an Unimportant Life.
Henson was conscious that a significant part of a diocesan bishop’s job must be to accept the responsibilities of a “great national officer”, and even before his elevation to the episcopal bench never avoided speaking his mind publicly on matters which he felt appropriate for a cleric, and continued to do so until his retirement in 1941.
Henson the controversialist
In the aftermath of the second DreyfusDreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent...
trial of 1899, Henson castigated the French Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in his published sermons. In 1912, while canon of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, he named from the pulpit the three British directors of the Putumayo
ICA
- Business :* Empresas ICA , large construction company in Mexico* ICA AB, a Swedish corporate group in the food retail business, formerly named ICA Ahold AB....
Rubber Company, furious at their acquiescence in the notorious atrocities which the company committed against its Peruvian Indian labour force. In the more strictly ecclesiastical sphere he was vociferous for inter-communion between the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and all regular Protestant churches, no doubt partly to make amends for his outburst of 1892, which he always regretted. Henson was in some respects a theological liberal, seeking, in the words of Owen Chadwick
Owen Chadwick
William Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE is a British professor, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player.-Early life and education:Chadwick was born in Bromley in 1916...
, to “restate the doctrines of the Church of England in such a way that they will not offend intelligent men”. His nomination as Bishop of Hereford
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
in 1917 provoked what Henson himself called a “heresy hunt”. Until 1928 he was a prominent antidisestablishmentarian
Antidisestablishmentarianism
Antidisestablishmentarianism is a political position that originated in 19th-century Britain in opposition to proposals for the disestablishment of the Church of England, that is, to remove the Anglican Church's status as the state church of England, Ireland, and Wales.The establishment was...
. As Bishop of Durham during the years of the Great Depression in the United Kingdom
Great Depression in the United Kingdom
The Great Depression in the United Kingdom, also known as the Great Slump, was a period of national economic downturn in the 1930s, which had its origins in the global Great Depression...
, Henson spoke out against what he saw as the immorality of the coal-mining unions’ strikes, although fully alive to the hardships suffered by individual miners, and active in local attempts to provide meaningful work for the unemployed. From 1935 onwards he was prominent too among those who protested against the British Government's acceptance of Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia
Abyssinia Crisis
The Abyssinia Crisis was a diplomatic crisis during the interwar period originating in the "Walwal incident." This incident resulted from the ongoing conflict between the Kingdom of Italy and the Empire of Ethiopia...
. In the course of a widely-reported speech in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in May 1938, Henson castigated the prevailing policy of appeasement, referring to Lord Halifax
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, , known as The Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and as The Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was one of the most senior British Conservative politicians of the 1930s, during which he held several senior ministerial posts, most notably as...
’s abandonment of Abyssinia as “the cold sophistry of a cynical opportunism”. In the late 1930s he was characteristically uncompromising in his condemnation of the anti-semitic policies of Nazi Germany. In 1940, at Churchill’s personal request, and at the age of 77, Henson was persuaded out of retirement to take up for a second time a Westminster canonry “as a piece of war-work”.
Legacy
These public utterances, expressed in language of at times devastating clarity, were ultimately of little influence in the affairs of Church or State. Henson referred to himself as a “lone wolf”, a “back number”. On the one occasion when his personal position was thoroughly in tune with the feeling of the times - his war-time residency at Westminster - failing eyesight and the interruptions of the blitz made his preaching ineffectual. By inclination a historian (Prize Fellow of All SoulsAll Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
at the age of 20), his increasing involvement in public controversy, and work as Vicar of Barking (1888), Rector of St Margaret’s
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
and canon of Westminster (1900), Dean of Durham (1915), Bishop of Hereford, then finally as Bishop of Durham, allowed him small leisure for scholarly pursuits. He may have hoped that his published sermons, journal and letters would, like those of one of his ecclesiastical heroes, Robertson of Brighton
Frederick William Robertson
Frederick William Robertson , known as Robertson of Brighton, was an English divine.Born in London, the first five years of his life were passed at Leith Fort, where his father, a captain in the Royal Artillery, was then resident...
, ensure him a growing measure of continuing influence. It was, however, in the day to day fulfilment of the immediate responsibilities of his pastoral and administrative roles that he was agreed to have left the most effective legacy, by those of his contemporaries who knew him best.
In literature
The first book in Susan HowatchSusan Howatch
Susan Howatch is an English author. Her writing career has been distinguished by family saga-type novels which describe the lives of related characters for long periods of time...
's Starbridge series, Glittering Images, carries a quotation from Henson's letters at the beginning of each chapter. In the novel's afterword, Howard acknowledges that the character of Bishop Jardine is based on Henson, whose career and early life are the basis for Howatch's fictional bishop. Howatch outlines the similarities in the two bishops' domestic arrangements as well, but makes no claim to have based the unusual details of Jardine's personal life on Henson's.