A NORTH Shropshire parish church will be turning the clock back more than 150 years later this month to relive the story of one of the most famous bishops in the Church of England, who spent part of his early life in the town.

Edward King – bishop of Lincoln in Victorian times – began his education in Ellesmere as a pupil, then a helper, to the then vicar, the Rev John Day, who rebuilt a large section of St Mary’s church and founded an infants’ school nearby.

He went on to study at Oxford where he became a professor of theology before Prime Minister William Gladstone put him in charge of the Lincoln diocese.

Bishop King was been hailed as a ‘saint’ and a ‘champion of the poor’.

But he became embroiled in controversy when traditionalists accused him of undermining the Church of England’s heritage. In 1889 he was put on trial before a church court, accused of permitting ‘illegal’ ceremonial practices during services. These included allowing candles to be lit on the altar, a practice which is now commonplace.

After a long and widely-publicised hearing, the bishop was largely exonerated and the case paved the way for reforms in the church.

A talk on his life, and his close links to Ellesmere will be given in a presentation at St Mary’s by the retired Bishop of Woolwich, Michael Marshall, who has just published a book called ‘The Life and Times of Edward King, Pastor, Bishop and Saint.’

The event takes place at 2.30pm on Saturday, October 23 and will include tea at 4pm, followed by Evensong at 5.30 sung by the choir of St Oswald’s, Oswestry. All are welcome.

The Rev Pat Hawkins, vicar of Ellesmere, said: “Bishop King had a long association with Ellesmere from childhood and became a significant figure in Victorian times.

"He was opposed by some, but to many more he was regarded as saintly, particularly for his work in caring for the poor, the sick and others in need of help, including prisoners.

"It should be an interesting afternoon, placing the history of the town and the church in a broader context.”

If you plan to attend please email the vicar, revpat.hawkins@gmail.com or telephone 01691 622571.