George Walpole

George Henry Somerset Walpole (9 November 1854 – 4 March 1929), known as Somerset Walpole was an Anglican priest, bishop, teacher and author. After early service in the west of England he moved first to Auckland, New Zealand, and then to New York, before returning to England. After educational work in Durham and pastoral work in London he was elected Bishop of Edinburgh in 1910, and held the post until his death. A moderate High Churchman, Walpole was well disposed to and trusted by co-religionists of different views. He published more than twenty books on theology and practical religious matters. The eldest of his three children was the novelist Hugh Walpole. Life and career Walpole was born in Balderton, Nottinghamshire, the son of the Rev. Robert Seymour Walpole (1820–1910), vicar of St Giles's, Balderton, and Elizabeth, daughter of Reverend Frederick Apthorp, rector of Gumley, Leicestershire. Rev. Robert Seymour Walpole was a son of the classical scholar Robert Walpole, grandson of diplomat Robert Walpole, and great-grandson of Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole. Walpole's father had been an army officer before taking holy orders, and he envisaged a military career for his son; Walpole was from an early age drawn to the church. He was educated at King's Lynn Grammar School, and then Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took a first class degree in theology in 1877. As soon as he left Cambridge he was invited by Bishop Benson to become a tutor at the Scholae Cancellarii, Truro. Benson subsequently ordained Walpole as deacon and then priest. From 1878 Walpole combined the teaching post with that of curate of St Mary's, Truro, and was successively Priest-Vicar and Succentor of the cathedral. In 1880 he suggested to Benson that a carol service should be held on Christmas Eve as a counter-attraction to the public houses. Benson agreed, and drew up an order of service of nine lessons and carols, which was later taken up by cathedrals and parish churches all round the world.