Eric Mercer

Eric Arthur John Mercer ( born December 6, 1917 in Walmer, Kent; † 8 November 2003 in Chilmark, Wiltshire ) was a British Anglican theologian. He was from 1973 to 1985 Bishop of Exeter in the Church of England.

Mercer was born the son of Ambrose John Mercer and his wife Ruby Lydia Rowling in Kent. His father was a painter and interior decorator. He attended Dover Grammar School for Boys. To prepare for the priesthood, he studied in Nottinghamshire at Kelham Theological College, which was led by the Society of the Sacred Mission, a company founded in 1892 English religious community. His five -year training there in 1939 interrupted by the Second World War. In early 1940, joined the Sherwood Foresters. In 1942, he was wounded as a platoon leader ( platoon officer ) at the Battle of El Alamein hard on the leg and on the eye. When the Allies landed in Italy in January 1944, he was part of Operation Shingle as an aide under the command of Martin Redmayne, who later became party chairman of the Conservative Party, the military operation at Anzio, so-called " Battle of Anzio ." For his combat mission near San Savino on the Gothic Line in 1944 he was Mentioned in Despatches. In 1944, he was assigned to the General Staff Academy ( Staff College ) in Haifa. 1945 Mercer joined the standing under the command Redmaynes 66th Infantry Brigade. He had his last military position in 1945 as a staff officer in the rank of Major for special tasks ( GS02; Special Duties ) in the headquarters of the Middle East Land Forces.

In 1946 he returned to the Kelham Theological College and continued his priestly formation. In 1947 he was ordained a deacon; In 1948, in the diocese of Chester, the ordination. His priestly career began from 1947 to 1951 as a vicar ( Curate ) in Coppenhall near Crewe. In 1951 he became pastor ( priest in charge) in a residential area of ​​Heald Green near Cheadle; he held for two years until 1953 this office. In 1953 he became pastor ( rector ) at St Thomas ' Church, Stockport. In these years, Mercer earned his reputation as an outstanding priest, preacher and future-oriented churchman. In 1959, he was " Diocesan Missioner " in the Diocese of Chester. In this role, he was responsible for the expansion of missionary activities and the proclamation of faith in the parishes. At the same time he was pastor from 1959 to 1965 at St Bridget with St Martin Church, a small parish in Chester. In 1964 he was Honorarkanoniker ( Honorary Canon, Canon ) at the Chester Cathedral.

In 1965 he was ordained a bishop. From 1965 to 1973 he was known as " Bishop of Birkenhead " suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chester in the Church of England. He was the first Bishop of Birkenhead in the Church of England. His successor in office was 1973 Ronald Brown. In 1973 he was the successor of Robert Cecil Mortimer Bishop of Exeter in the Church of England. A serious illness forced Mercer, largely to lead the official duties of the episcopal residence; reinforced he therefore requested his Suffraganbschöfe to assume responsibility for their area. From 1976 to 1985 he was also Vice Chairman ( Deputy Chairman ) of the Church Commissioners ' Pastoral Committee. His successor as Bishop of Exeter in 1985 Hewlett Thompson.

In his retirement, he took over as pastor of two rural communities; It had always been Mercer's desire to be a country parson. He was a pastor (Vicar ) of Hindon with responsibility for communities in Chicklade and Pertwood, on the edge of Salisbury Plain.

In 1951 he married his wife Rosemary Wilma Denby. The marriage produced a son and a daughter were born. His son Patrick Mercer was in 2001 a member of parliament in the House of Commons for the constituency of Newark. He died at the age of 85 years, retired in Chilmark in the county of Wiltshire.

Membership in the House of Lords

Mercer was in his capacity as Bishop of Exeter from 1978 until his retirement in 1985 as minister Lord the House of Lords on.