Eric Arthur John Mercer
Encyclopedia
Eric Arthur John Mercer (6 December 1917 - 8 November 2003) was an Anglican bishop
in the Church of England
. He was the first Bishop of Birkenhead
from 1965 to 1973 and, from then until his retirement, the Bishop of Exeter
.
Mercer was educated at Dover Grammar School for Boys
and Kelham Theological College
. After wartime service with the Sherwood Foresters
he began his ordained ministry as a curate
at Coppenhall
. In 1951 he was appointed priest in charge
of Heald Green
and then became rector
of St Thomas' Church, Stockport
and, from 1959 (his final appointment before his ordination to the episcopate), the Diocese of Chester
's diocesan missioner. In 1973 he was translated
to be the Bishop of Exeter. He died in retirement, at Chilmark, Wiltshire
, aged 85.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in 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...
. He was the first Bishop of Birkenhead
Bishop of Birkenhead
The Bishop of Birkenhead is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name after Birkenhead, a town located on the Wirral Peninsula....
from 1965 to 1973 and, from then until his retirement, the Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
.
Mercer was educated at Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Boys is a selective secondary school located in Dover, United Kingdom. The school is situated next to Astor College for the Arts, which is a non-selective school. It has a strong sporting rivalry with Astor and Sir Roger Manwood's School, a selective Grammar school in...
and Kelham Theological College
Society of the Sacred Mission
The Society of the Sacred Mission is an Anglican religious order founded in 1893 by Father Herbert Kelly, envisaged such that "members of the Society share a common life of prayer and fellowship in a variety of educational, pastoral and community activities in England, Australia, Japan, Lesotho,...
. After wartime service with the Sherwood Foresters
Sherwood Foresters
The Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...
he began his ordained ministry as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Coppenhall
Coppenhall
Coppenhall is a small settlement in Staffordshire, England. Coppenhall lies southwest of Stafford and NNW of Penkridge with Baron Stafford as lord of the manor. The parish of ~ is bounded on the east by the Pothooks Brook...
. In 1951 he was appointed priest in charge
Priest in charge
A priest in charge or priest-in-charge is a priest in charge of a parish who does not receive the temporalities of the parish. He or she is not legally responsible for the churches and glebe, simply holds a licence rather than freehold and is not appointed by advowson.The appointment of priests in...
of Heald Green
Heald Green
Heald Green is a suburb of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It is situated in the south-west of the borough and is bordered by Gatley and Cheadle to the north, Cheadle Hulme to the east, Handforth and Styal to the south and Wythenshawe to the west...
and then became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St Thomas' Church, Stockport
St Thomas' Church, Stockport
-History:The church was designed by George Basevi in the neo-classical style. It was built as a Commissioners' church at a cost of £15,611 , and received a grant of £15,636 from the Church Building Commission to cover the cost of construction plus other expenses. The contractors were Samuel...
and, from 1959 (his final appointment before his ordination to the episcopate), the Diocese of Chester
Diocese of Chester
The Diocese of Chester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York based in Chester, covering the county of Cheshire in its pre-1974 boundaries...
's diocesan missioner. In 1973 he was translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to be the Bishop of Exeter. He died in retirement, at Chilmark, Wiltshire
Chilmark, Wiltshire
Chilmark is a Wiltshire village of some 150 houses straddling the B3089 road twelve miles west of Salisbury. The parish church was given by Henry VIII to the brother in law of his last wife...
, aged 85.