Eric Arthur John Mercer

Eric Arthur John Mercer was the inaugural Bishop of Birkenhead from 1965 ["Ecclesiastical News Consecration Of Two Bishops Suffragan (Official Appointments and Notices)" The Times Wednesday, Nov 03, 1965; pg. 14; Issue 56469; col F ] to 1973; and from then until his retirement Bishop of Exeter. Born on 6 December 1917 he was educated at Dover Grammar School for Boys [Who's Who 1970 London, A & C Black, 1971 ISBN 0713611405 ] and Kelham Theological College. After wartime service with the Sherwood Foresters he began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at Coppenhall. In 1951 he was appointed Priest in charge of Heald Green, followed by a spell as Rector of "St Thomas, Stockport" [ [http://www.carlscam.com/stockport/stthomas.htm Photo of church] ] ; and, from 1959 (his final appointment before his elevation to the episcopate) the [Diocese of Chester] ’s "Diocesan Missioner" [Crockford's clerical directory1976 Lambeth, Church House, ISBN 018153674] . In 1973 he was translated to Exeter [The Times, Thursday, Aug 30, 1973; pg. 14; Issue 58874; col C "Bishops named for Exeter and Hereford"] . He died in retirement at Chilmark, Wiltshire on 8 November 2003.

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