John Colenso


John William Colenso
Bishop of Natal
Portrait by Samuel Sidley (1866)
ChurchChurch of England
SeeNatal
In office1853 – 20 June 1883
Predecessornone
SuccessorHamilton Baynes
Previous post(s)Rector of Forncett St Mary
Personal details
Born(1814-01-24)24 January 1814
St Austell, Cornwall, England
Died20 June 1883(1883-06-20) (aged 69)
Durban, Natal Colony

John William Colenso (24 January 1814 – 20 June 1883) was a Cornish cleric and mathematician, defender of the Zulu and biblical scholar, who served as the first Bishop of Natal. He was a scholar of the Zulu language. In his role as an Anglican theologian, Colenso is now remembered for views of the Bible that set off intense controversy.