Eric William Heaton
Encyclopedia
Eric William Heaton MA (15 October 1920 – 24 August 1996) was an Old Testament
scholar and a former Dean
of Christ Church, Oxford
(1979–91).
Eric Heaton's father was a sheep farmer at Long Preston in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
He was educated at Ermysted's Grammar School
and Christ's College, Cambridge
(1939–42) and a curate in Durham
. He was appointed Chaplain
of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge in 1945. After seven years he was appointed a Canon
of Salisbury Cathedral
.
He was Fellow, Chaplain, and Tutor in Theology
of St John’s College, Oxford (1960–74) and Senior Tutor (1967–73). He was Dean of Durham Cathedral (1974–79).
In 1951 he married Rachel Dodd, daughter of the eminent theologian C. H. Dodd
whose work on the translation of the New English Bible
Heaton much admired.
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
scholar and a former Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
(1979–91).
Eric Heaton's father was a sheep farmer at Long Preston in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
He was educated at Ermysted's Grammar School
Ermysted's Grammar School
Ermysteds Grammar School is a LEA-funded selective boys' Grammar School in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England, teaching over 800 pupils.It is the seventh oldest state school in Britain and was founded by Peter Toller in the 15th century. The first official record of the school was seen in Peter...
and Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
(1939–42) and a curate in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. He was appointed 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...
of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge in 1945. After seven years he was appointed a Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
.
He was Fellow, Chaplain, and Tutor in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
of St John’s College, Oxford (1960–74) and Senior Tutor (1967–73). He was Dean of Durham Cathedral (1974–79).
In 1951 he married Rachel Dodd, daughter of the eminent theologian C. H. Dodd
C. H. Dodd
Charles Harold Dodd was a Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian.He is known for promoting "realized eschatology", the belief that Jesus' references to the kingdom of God meant a present reality rather than a future apocalypse.-Life:Dodd was born in Wrexham,...
whose work on the translation of the New English Bible
New English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
Heaton much admired.
Notable works by Heaton
- The Book of Daniel - Introduction and Commentary (1956)
- Everyday Life in Old Testament Times (1956)
- The Old Testament Prophets (1958)
- Commentary on the Sunday Lessons — New Lectionary Year One (1959)
- The Hebrew Kingdoms (1968)
- School Tradition of the Old Testament (1994)