Edward Hayes Plumptre

6 August 1821—1 February 1891

EDWARD HAYES PLUMPTRE, dean of Wells and biographer of Bishop Ken, came of a family originally of Nottingham. The branch to which Edward belonged subsequently removed to Fredville in Kent. He was born on 6 Aug. 1821, being the son of Edward Hallows Plumptre, a London solicitor. Charles John Plumptre was his brother. He was educated at home, and (after a brief stay at King’s College, London) entered Oxford as a scholar of University College, of which his uncle, Frederick Charles Plumptre (1796–1870), was master from 1836 till his death. In 1844, he took a double first-class, alone in mathematics, and in classics with Sir George Bowen, Dean Bradley, and E. Poste. He was elected to a fellowship at Brasenose, which he resigned three years afterwards, on his marriage with Harriet Theodosia, sister of Frederick Denison Maurice.

For some years the influence of his brother-in-law was apparent in his religious views, but as he advanced in life he identified himself with no party. Ordained in 1846 by Bishop Wilberforce, he proceeded M.A. in 1847, and joined the staff of King’s College, London. There his work mainly lay for twenty-one years, and he enlarged the scope of the institution by introducing evening classes. From 1847 to 1868 he was chaplain there, from 1853 to 1863 professor of pastoral theology, and from 1864 to 1881 professor of exegesis. He proved a most sympathetic teacher, and took a genuine interest in the future welfare of his pupils. He also took a leading part in promoting the higher education of women as a professor of Queen’s College, Harley Street, where he held the office of principal during the last two years of his work there (1875–77).

Throughout this period he was also occupied in clerical work. From 1851 to 1858 he was assistant preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, and in 1863 prebendary of St. Paul’s. He was rector of Pluckley from 1869 and of Bickley from 1873. He was Boyle lecturer in 1866, and the lectures were afterwards published under the title of “Christ and Christendom.” From 1869 to 1874 he was a member of the Old Testament revision committee, and from 1872 to 1874 Grinfield lecturer and examiner at Oxford.

In 1881, he resigned his work in London on becoming dean of Wells. He was an ideal dean, possessing a genuine talent for business, and being always ready to consider the suggestions of others. Not only the cathedral and the Theological College, but the city of Wells, its hospital, its almshouse, and its workhouse, commanded his service.

Meanwhile his pen was never idle. He wrote much on the interpretation of scripture, endeavouring to combine and popularise, in no superficial fashion, the results attained by labourers in special sections of the subject. He contributed to the commentaries known respectively as the Cambridge Bible, the Speaker’s Commentary, that edited by Bishop Ellicott, and the Bible Educator. He also wrote Biblical Studies, 1870 (3rd edit. 1885), St. Paul in Asia (1877), a Popular Exposition of the Epistles to the Seven Churches (1877 and 1879), Movements in Religious Thought: Romanism, Protestantism, Agnosticism (1879), and Theology and Life (1884). His most remarkable theological work was The Spirits in Prison, and other studies on Life after Death (1884 and 1885). The book comprises a review of previous teaching on the subject of eschatology. His characteristic sympathy with “the larger hope” is moderated throughout by a characteristic caution. He had passed beyond the influence of Maurice, and, though his loyal admiration for his earlier teacher remained unchanged, he had rejected his conclusions.

In 1888 he issued a little work on Wells Cathedral and its Deans, and in the same year appeared his Life of Bishop Ken. Though diffuse, the book has something of the charm of Walton’s Lives, and breathes the still air of a cathedral. Its main defect is the occasional intrusion of conjectural or “ideal” biography.

Plumptre published several volumes of verse. He had a keen perception of literary excellence, unappeasable ambition, and unwearied industry; but his gifts were hardly sufficient to insure him a place among the poets. Lazarus and Other Poems appeared in 1864, 8vo (3rd edit. 1868); Master and Scholar, which was warmly praised in the Westminster Review, in 1866, 8vo; and Things New and Old in 1884, 8vo. All his pieces are refined and earnest; few are really forcible. Several of Plumptre’s hymns have been admitted into popular collections, and satisfy their not very exacting requirements.

He also translated with much success the plays of Sophocles (1865) and of Eschylus (1868), and thus gave readers ignorant of Greek some adequate conception of the masterpieces of Attic drama. For twenty years he studied Dante, and his English version of Dante’s work appeared as The Divina Commedia and Canzoniere of Dante Alighieri; with Biographical Introduction, Notes and Essays (vol. i. 1880, 8vo, vol. ii. 1887). Plumptre’s notes condense all that history or tradition can tell us of the author. But the translation itself is hampered by a too strict adherence, in our stubborn tongue, to the metrical form of the original.

Plumptre died on 1 Feb. 1891 at the deanery of Wells, and was buried in the cathedral cemetery beside his wife, who had predeceased him on 3 April 1889. The marriage was childless.

by R.C. Browne
Dictionary of National Biography (1896)

Featured Hymns:

Rejoice, ye pure in heart

Collections of Hymns and Poems:

List of Works by E.H. Plumptre >

Manuscripts:

see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:
https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/22402

Related Resources:

“Very Rev. Edward Hayes Plumptre,” Crockford’s Clerical Directory (1882), pp. 861–862: HathiTrust

“Edward Hayes Plumptre,” Men of Mark: a Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, Seventh Series (London, 1883), p. 6: Archive.org

John Julian, “Edward Hayes Plumptre,” A Dictionary of Hymnology (1892), p. 897: Google Books

R.C. Browne, “Edward Hayes Plumptre,” Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 45, ed. Sidney Lee (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1896), pp. 437–438: HathiTrust

Bernard Braley, “Edward Plumptre,” Hymnwriters 3 (London: Stainer & Bell, 1991), pp. 37–70.

R.C. Browne & H.C.G. Matthew, “Edward Hayes Plumptre,” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:
https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/22402

E.H. Plumptre at Hymnary.org:
https://hymnary.org/person/Plumptre_EH

Sheila Doyle, “Edward Hayes Plumptre,” Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/e/edward-hayes-plumptre