Life

Barker was born in London on 30 November 1799, and was entered at Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...

 in 1807, where he remained until age 16. He wished to proceed to Cambridge to for classical studies, with a view to taking holy orders; his parents, however, who were strict nonconformists, refused to agree. In time he decided to entering Homerton Old College and prepare himself for the congregational ministry, in 1821. He married the same or the following year, thereby cutting short his college course.

In 1822 he became pastor of a village church at Alresford

Alresford

Alresford may refer to:* Alresford, Essex, a village in Essex, England* New Alresford, a small town in Hampshire, England* Old Alresford, a village in Hampshire, England* the deanery of Alresford that includes the last two and other parishes...

, Hampshire

Hampshire

Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...

, and two years later he moved to Harpenden

Harpenden

Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....

, where he spent nine years as minister and teacher. In 1833 he moved to Uxbridge

Uxbridge

Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...

, and in 1838 was appointed (at the recommendation of John Pye-Smith

John Pye-Smith

The Rev Dr John Pye-Smith FRS, FGS was a Congregational theologian and tutor, associated with reconciling geological sciences with the Bible, repealing the Corn Laws and abolishing slavery...

) the tutor in classics and Hebrew at Spring Hill College, Birmingham. Here in the following year he was joined by Henry Rogers

Henry Rogers (congregationalist)

Henry Rogers was an English nonconformist minister and man of letters, known as a Christian apologist.-Life:He was third son of Thomas Rogers, a surgeon of St Albans, where he was born on 18 October 1806. He was educated at private schools and by his father, of congregationalist views...

. Barker was provided with quarters in the college, and was responsible for the maintenance of its discipline.

On 22 November 1870 he found himself too weak to rise, and spent the day in bed. In the evening, shortly before nine o'clock, he fell asleep, and though he woke again after a few minutes, he had already lost the power of speech, and died the next morning. He was buried on the 29th in the Birmingham general cemetery.

Family

Barker was married more than once. His first wife died in 1833. He left a wife, two daughters, and three sons, of whom one, the Rev. Philip C. Barker, became professor of mathematics at Rotherham Congregational College, Sheffield.