George Sumner (bishop of Guildford)

Not to be confused with the bishop of Dallas George R. Sumner.

Rt Rev George Sumner, Bishop of Guilldford

George Henry Sumner (3 July 1824 – 11 December 1909) was the Bishop of Guildford (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester)[1] at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

Tomb of Sumner and his wife

Born into an ecclesiastical family — his father, Charles Sumner, was Bishop of Winchester from 1827 until 1869[2] — and educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford,[3] he was ordained to the priesthood in 1847.[4] His first position was a curacy in Crawley after which he was the Rector of Old Alresford and then the Archdeacon of Winchester before his ordination to the episcopate,[5] nine years after the death of his predecessor John Utterton.[6]

In 1904, Sumner was ageing but not ready to retire fully, so a new suffragan See of Dorking was erected and Cecil Boutflower was appointed Bishop of Dorking early the next year.[7] When Boutflower departed for Japan, Sumner resigned the See in early 1909 (before John Randolph's consecration on 21 February 1909)[8] and Randolph was appointed Bishop of Guildford, succeeding Boutflower in duties and Sumner in the See.[9]

His wife, Mary Sumner, was the founder of the Mothers’ Union.

  1. ^ thePeerage.com
  2. ^ “Who was Who” 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  3. ^ The Times, 12 November 1892; p. 10; Issue 33794; col F University Intelligence. Oxford, Nov. 11
  4. ^ "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, John Phillips, 1900
  5. ^ Consecration of Bishops The Times, 1 December 1888; p. 11; Issue 32558; col ?
  6. ^ Sudden Death Of The Bishop Of Guildford The Times Monday, 22 December 1879; p. 6; Issue 29757; col E
  7. ^ "New suffragan bishop". Church Times. No. 2184. 2 December 1904. p. 735. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 March 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. ^ "in memoriam. Bishop Sumner". Church Times. No. 2477. 17 December 1909. p. 836. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 March 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
  9. ^ "Church News. General". Church Times. No. 2405. 26 February 1909. p. 266. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 March 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.